GP practices in the Colchester council area: access and ratings
There are 15 GP practices in the Colchester council area, with 216,240 registered patients between them (September 2026). 214,681 people living in Colchester were registered with a GP in July 2026, 96% of them at a practice inside the council area. Practices in Colchester have 2,433 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 15 practices in Colchester with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 64% at Tollgate Medical Centre to 91% at Mersea Island Medical Practice, with a median of 75% (England: 77%). 3 are above England and 4 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Bluebell Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (81%, England 57%).
| Practice | Residents registered (July 2026) | Registered patients (September 2026) | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mersea Island Medical Practice | 6,999 | 6,970 | 91% | 48% | – | 1,394 |
| Colchester Medical Practice | 42,516 | 43,458 | 87% | 77% | Good | 2,776 |
| Mill Road Surgery | 17,799 | 21,943 | 84% | 50% | Good | 2,768 |
| East Hill Surgery | 9,277 | 9,444 | 83% | 66% | Good | 2,146 |
| The Medical Centre | 9,666 | 12,215 | 81% | 32% | – | 2,291 |
| Bluebell Surgery | 3,395 | 1 | 77% | 81% | – | 1 |
| Dr Abiodun Obisesan | 8,821 | 8,929 | 76% | 60% | Good | 3,417 |
| Colchester Medical Limited | 10,235 | 10,353 | 75% | 60% | Good | 2,017 |
| Creffield Medical Group | 24,211 | 26,743 | 74% | 45% | Good | 1,820 |
| Wivenhoe Medical Centre | 7,477 | 9,049 | 73% | 56% | – | 2,167 |
| Highwoods Surgery | 7,321 | 7,597 | 70% | 55% | Good | 3,799 |
| Ambrose Avenue Group Practice | 13,787 | 13,826 | 66% | 18% | – | 2,795 |
| Rowhedge & University of Essex Medical Practice | 14,054 | 13,896 | 66% | 63% | – | 2,140 |
| Abbey Field Medical Centre | 19,686 | 21,720 | 66% | 45% | Good | 2,843 |
| Tollgate Medical Centre | 10,014 | 10,096 | 64% | 39% | – | 5,825 |
There are 2,433 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Colchester, more than England's 2,171 and Essex's 2,514. Practices recorded 446 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 76% of them face to face. 39% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%). 18% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%).
| Measure | Colchester | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,433 | 2,514 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 446 | 480 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 76% | 69% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 39% | 45% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 3% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 18% | 20% | 19% |
96% of Colchester's registered residents are with a practice in the council area. The practices outside it with the most Colchester residents are Ardleigh Surgery (2,397), The Pump House Surgery (1,912) and Kelvedon & Feering Health Centre (1,403).
| Practice outside the council area | Residents of Colchester registered | Town |
|---|---|---|
| Ardleigh Surgery | 2,397 | Colchester |
| The Pump House Surgery | 1,912 | Colchester |
| Kelvedon & Feering Health Centre | 1,403 | Colchester |
| The Coggeshall Surgery | 1,044 | Colchester |
| The Tollesbury Practice | 478 | Maldon |
| Constable Country Rural Medical Practice | 362 | Colchester |
| Hardwicke House | 337 | Sudbury |
| Dr Hazim Ahmad | 112 | Manningtree |
| Blackwater Medical Centre | 57 | Maldon |
| St. Helen's Street | 51 | Ipswich |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Colchester is palliative care (1.1% against 0.6%), and the furthest below is peripheral arterial disease (0.4% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Colchester (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.9% | 14.3% | 24,248 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 13.7% | 15.2% | 30,028 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.7% | 7.9% | 11,787 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.3% | 6.6% | 13,064 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.5% | 4.6% | 7,837 |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.6% | 3.8% | 7,968 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.5% | 3.0% | 5,482 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.1% | 2.2% | 4,646 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% | 3,330 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% | 3,256 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1,059 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 1.1% | 0.6% | 2,340 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.0% | 1.1% | 2,254 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2,194 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1,709 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1,352 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1,332 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1,358 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 862 |
- Basildon (2,620 patients per GP)
- Braintree (2,576 patients per GP)
- Brentwood (2,423 patients per GP)
- Castle Point (2,685 patients per GP)
- Chelmsford (2,378 patients per GP)
- Epping Forest (2,329 patients per GP)
- Harlow (2,761 patients per GP)
- Maldon (2,811 patients per GP)
- Redbridge (3,105 patients per GP)
- Rochford (2,098 patients per GP)
- Southend-on-Sea (2,599 patients per GP)
- Tendring (2,699 patients per GP)
- Thurrock (2,785 patients per GP)
- Uttlesford (2,127 patients per GP)
How many GP practices are there in Colchester?
15 practices are located in the Colchester council area, with 216,240 registered patients in September 2026.
Where are Colchester residents registered with a GP?
96% of the 214,681 registered residents are with a practice inside the council area; the practice outside it with the most is Ardleigh Surgery (2,397).
How many patients are there per GP in Colchester?
2,433 patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP at practices in Colchester, against 2,171 across England.
Can you get a same-day GP appointment in Colchester?
39% of appointments at practices in Colchester took place on the day they were booked, against 45% across England.