GP practices in the County Durham council area: access and ratings

There are 61 GP practices in the County Durham council area, with 566,928 registered patients between them (September 2026). 557,228 people living in County Durham were registered with a GP in July 2026, 98% of them at a practice inside the council area. Practices in County Durham have 2,118 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.

Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.

Across the 61 practices in County Durham with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 57% at Lanchester Medical Centre to 100% at Gainford Surgery, with a median of 83% (England: 77%). 25 are above England and 4 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Annfield Plain Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (98%, England 57%).

PracticeResidents registered (July 2026)Registered patients (September 2026)Overall experience goodEasy to contact by phoneCQC ratingPatients per GP
Gainford Surgery2,6173,708100%98%Good1,897
Silverdale Family Practice3,6376,63396%97%Outstanding1,183
Horden Group Practice8,1798,32996%97%Good2,309
Southdene Medical Centre3,3173,43695%91%Requires improvement1,998
Woodview Medical Practice2,5622,61795%98%Good1,118
Annfield Plain Surgery3,5623,56895%98%Good2,478
Queens Road Surgery16,53116,87995%90%Good1,710
Dr Rachel Ng & partners5,2725,28094%81%Good2,839
Dr Rina Miah1,7731,78994%93%Good4,548
Evenwood Medical Practice2,3132,35593%91%Good5,425
Murton Medical Group7,2607,30593%80%Good1,705
The Surgery - Great Lumley5,2455,28793%87%Outstanding1,652
Cedars Medical Group5,7636,28892%84%Good2,108
Pinfold Medical Practice2,7942,85491%87%Good1,531
Cheveley Park Medical Centre5,1205,16391%70%–3,227
Bishopgate Medical Centre13,55113,58390%65%Good3,276
Wingate Medical Practice3,4033,55690%91%Good4,167
Old Forge Surgery2,7042,72790%86%Good1,633
West Rainton Surgery3,6305,56189%90%Good4,233
Stanley Medical Group - Clifford Road12,57112,68988%80%Outstanding1,535
Auckland Medical Group16,05816,11688%70%Good2,185
Willington Medical Group9,1249,13687%71%Good1,779
Marlborough Surgery11,32811,55586%69%Good2,564
The Medical Group26,42726,44085%76%Good2,599
Tanfield View Medical Group10,76910,79485%67%Good1,863
The Weardale Practice7,0887,11284%48%Good1,467
Barnard Castle Surgery10,59911,06084%65%Good1,645
Chastleton Medical Group10,0689,94484%53%Good1,512
Station View Medical Centre9,6589,70483%66%Good2,940
Gardiner Crescent Surgery4,0864,11183%81%Requires improvement2,202
East Durham Medical Group17,69617,98883%68%Outstanding2,018
St. Andrew's Medical Practice15,93216,02183%66%Good2,358
Bevan Medical Group Surgery8,6498,75883%90%Good3,041
Oakfields Health Group5,5797,59983%71%Good1,601
Bishop's Close Medical Practice8,5698,62582%71%Good1,854
Belmont & Sherburn Medical Group6,2946,36181%61%Good8,155
Byron Medical Practice8,0818,27481%79%Good2,187
Jubilee Medical Group12,56313,07681%58%Good7,573
Bewick Crescent Surgery10,72712,84781%56%Good1,893
Coxhoe Medical Practice7,6487,64280%66%Good1,613
Bowburn Medical Centre4,5934,51979%64%Good5,649
Middle Chare Medical Group6,2019,17879%35%Good2,895
Consett Medical Centre16,17416,13279%54%Requires improvement2,363
Browney House Surgery2,6862,73979%86%Good2,568
Bridge End Surgery7,1627,46578%35%Good1,329
New Seaham Medical Group4,5864,61978%74%Good3,337
Hallgarth Surgery5,2765,33376%77%Good2,000
Sacriston Medical Centre10,59110,53875%53%Good2,393
North House Surgery13,53413,56175%44%Good1,611
Dunelm Medical Practice14,08914,16874%54%Good1,901
Claypath and University Medical Group31,90831,05274%76%Good2,716
The Surgery-Pelton10,17410,41172%51%Good1,625
West Cornforth Medical Practice2,8362,86172%76%Good2,402
Easington & Peterlee Medical Practice15,23715,41871%64%Good2,221
Skerne Medical Group14,44817,21171%52%Good1,749
Blackhall & Peterlee Practice9,88010,25469%61%Good2,090
Cestria Health Centre12,29012,52368%44%Outstanding1,551
Leadgate Surgery5,6335,67568%75%Good1,484
Peaseway Medical Centre10,98211,70865%53%Good2,135
Ferryhill & Chilton Medical Practice14,79614,79957%50%Good3,212
Lanchester Medical Centre4,0233,99457%67%–2,496

There are 2,118 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in County Durham, close to England's 2,171 and North East and North Cumbria's 2,088. Practices recorded 628 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 73% of them face to face. 38% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).

22% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 0.3% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).

MeasureCounty DurhamNorth East and North CumbriaEngland
Patients per qualified GP2,1182,0882,171
Appointments per 1,000 patients a month628550510
Face-to-face appointments73%68%63%
Same day as booked38%42%45%
Did not attend4%4%4%
Patients aged 65 or over22%22%19%

98% of County Durham's registered residents are with a practice in the council area. The practices outside it with the most County Durham residents are Birtley Medical Group (3,144), Westbourne Medical Group (940) and Grangewood Surgery (582).

Practice outside the council areaResidents of County Durham registeredTown
Birtley Medical Group3,144Birtley
Westbourne Medical Group940Houghton Le Spring
Grangewood Surgery582Houghton Le Spring
Kepier Medical Practice428Houghton Le Spring
Houghton Medical Group324Houghton Le Spring
Herrington Medical Centre322Houghton Le Spring
Hetton Group Practice310Houghton Le Spring
Dr Corbett, Dr Garget & Dr Mendis269Stockton On Tees
Doctors Lane Surgery155Richmond
Crawcrook Medical Centre137Ryton

Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in County Durham is palliative care (1.0% against 0.6%).

Condition registerAge groupCounty Durham (2024/25)EnglandPatients on register
High blood pressureAll ages19.3%15.2%110,189
Depression18+ yrs16.7%14.3%77,980
Diabetes17+ yrs9.7%7.9%45,697
Asthma6+ yrs8.0%6.6%43,243
Chronic kidney disease18+ yrs4.8%4.6%22,581
CancerAll ages4.3%3.8%24,383
Coronary heart diseaseAll ages4.1%3.0%23,566
COPDAll ages3.1%1.9%17,471
Atrial fibrillationAll ages2.7%2.2%15,453
Stroke and TIAAll ages2.6%1.9%15,060
Heart failureAll ages1.7%1.1%9,709
Osteoporosis50+ yrs1.4%1.2%3,246
Serious mental illnessAll ages1.1%1.0%6,195
Epilepsy18+ yrs1.0%0.8%4,618
Palliative careAll ages1.0%0.6%5,620
DementiaAll ages1.0%0.8%5,563
Rheumatoid arthritis16+ yrs0.9%0.8%4,442
Peripheral arterial diseaseAll ages0.9%0.6%5,181
Learning disabilityAll ages0.8%0.6%4,386

How many GP practices are there in County Durham?

61 practices are located in the County Durham council area, with 566,928 registered patients in September 2026.

Where are County Durham residents registered with a GP?

98% of the 557,228 registered residents are with a practice inside the council area; the practice outside it with the most is Birtley Medical Group (3,144).

How many patients are there per GP in County Durham?

2,118 patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP at practices in County Durham, against 2,171 across England.

Can you get a same-day GP appointment in County Durham?

38% of appointments at practices in County Durham took place on the day they were booked, against 45% across England.

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Cite this page

<a href="https://localgps.co.uk/council/county-durham">https://localgps.co.uk/council/county-durham</a>