GP practices in the Dorset council area: access and ratings
There are 37 GP practices in the Dorset council area, with 368,539 registered patients between them (September 2026). 399,103 people living in Dorset were registered with a GP in July 2026, 89% of them at a practice inside the council area. Practices in Dorset have 1,953 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 37 practices in Dorset with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 53% at Wyke Regis and Lanehouse Medical Practice to 99% at Milton Abbas Surgery, with a median of 87% (England: 77%). 22 are above England and 2 below by more than the survey's margin of error. The Silton Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (100%, England 57%).
| Practice | Residents registered (July 2026) | Registered patients (September 2026) | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Abbas Surgery | 4,999 | 5,016 | 99% | 99% | Outstanding | 1,341 |
| Corfe Castle Surgery | 3,258 | 3,282 | 97% | 99% | Outstanding | 1,302 |
| Puddletown Surgery | 4,327 | 4,335 | 97% | 99% | Good | 1,556 |
| Yetminster Health Centre | 4,426 | 4,773 | 96% | 96% | Good | 1,790 |
| The Prince of Wales Surgery | 9,890 | 9,940 | 96% | 78% | Good | 1,405 |
| The Silton Surgery | 1,285 | 2,426 | 96% | 100% | Good | 866 |
| Fordington Surgery | 5,371 | 5,429 | 94% | 99% | Good | 1,100 |
| The Bridges Medical Practice | 17,147 | 17,128 | 94% | 85% | Good | 1,460 |
| Poundbury Doctors Surgery | 8,177 | 8,225 | 93% | 89% | Good | 2,157 |
| The Barcellos Family Practice | 8,731 | 9,001 | 92% | 83% | Good | 1,886 |
| The Grove Medical Centre | 11,428 | 13,028 | 92% | 78% | Good | 1,414 |
| Cerne Abbas Surgery | 4,178 | 4,179 | 91% | 96% | Good | 1,380 |
| The Cranborne Practice | 12,555 | 14,060 | 91% | 84% | Good | 1,919 |
| Bere Regis Surgery | 3,891 | 3,888 | 91% | 96% | Good | 1,944 |
| Penny's Hill Practice | 7,254 | 7,398 | 91% | 74% | Good | 1,622 |
| Orchid House Surgery | 8,627 | 8,635 | 90% | 79% | Good | 2,381 |
| Royal Crescent Surgery | 26,851 | 26,856 | 89% | 71% | Outstanding | 2,228 |
| The Apples Medical Centre | 4,726 | 5,260 | 88% | 81% | Good | 1,793 |
| The Blackmore Vale Partnership | 25,507 | 26,761 | 87% | 68% | Good | 2,224 |
| Walford Mill Medical Centre | 7,802 | 8,432 | 87% | 64% | Good | 2,941 |
| Queens Avenue Surgery | 8,746 | 8,751 | 87% | 86% | Good | – |
| Lyme Bay Medical Practice | 6,174 | 8,735 | 85% | 82% | – | 2,458 |
| Barton House Medical Practice | 4,793 | 4,932 | 84% | 55% | Good | 1,370 |
| The Verwood Surgery | 7,763 | 7,813 | 84% | 90% | Good | 1,308 |
| The Wellbridge Practice | 6,024 | 6,026 | 81% | 53% | Good | 1,199 |
| The Quarter Jack Surgery | 16,085 | 17,800 | 81% | 50% | Good | 1,915 |
| Sandford Surgery | 1,910 | 1,907 | 80% | 76% | Good | – |
| Wareham Surgery | 8,158 | 8,168 | 80% | 38% | Good | 916 |
| Swanage Medical Practice | 10,575 | 10,598 | 79% | 53% | Good | 2,585 |
| Gillingham Medical Practice | 12,878 | 13,262 | 76% | 51% | Good | 2,661 |
| West Moors Group Practice | 5,329 | 5,339 | 76% | 71% | Good | 2,035 |
| Royal Manor Health Care | 12,245 | 12,296 | 75% | 58% | Good | 4,309 |
| Whitecliff Surgery | 23,392 | 23,404 | 73% | 42% | Requires improvement | 1,911 |
| Cross Road Surgery | 8,671 | 8,737 | 73% | 65% | Good | 5,106 |
| Atrium Health Centre | 6,524 | 6,449 | 73% | 65% | Good | 3,901 |
| Bridport Medical Centre | 24,166 | 24,217 | 65% | 32% | Good | 2,532 |
| Wyke Regis and Lanehouse Medical Practice | 12,090 | 12,053 | 53% | 42% | Requires improvement | 18,373 |
There are 1,953 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Dorset, fewer than England's 2,171 and Dorset's 1,904. Practices recorded 647 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 68% of them face to face. 42% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
31% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 0.3% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Dorset | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 1,953 | 1,904 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 647 | 612 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 68% | 63% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 31% | 26% | 19% |
89% of Dorset's registered residents are with a practice in the council area. The practices outside it with the most Dorset residents are The Adam Practice (10,903), The Hadleigh Practice (10,715) and Cornerways Medical Centre (4,392).
| Practice outside the council area | Residents of Dorset registered | Town |
|---|---|---|
| The Adam Practice | 10,903 | Poole |
| The Hadleigh Practice | 10,715 | Broadstone |
| Cornerways Medical Centre | 4,392 | Ringwood |
| Ringwood Medical Practice at Ringwood Medical Centre | 2,456 | Ringwood |
| The Harvey Practice | 2,224 | Broadstone |
| The Fordingbridge Surgery | 2,182 | Fordingbridge |
| Sarum Health Group | 1,734 | Salisbury |
| The Birchwood Practice | 1,216 | Poole |
| Milborne Port Surgery | 1,016 | Sherborne |
| Mere Surgery | 522 | Warminster |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Dorset is palliative care (1.2% against 0.6%), and the furthest below is depression (13.7% against 14.3%).
| Condition register | Age group | Dorset (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 19.8% | 15.2% | 72,721 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.7% | 14.3% | 42,240 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.5% | 6.6% | 29,908 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.2% | 7.9% | 25,604 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 7.2% | 4.6% | 22,022 |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.9% | 3.8% | 21,761 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.8% | 3.0% | 17,711 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.0% | 2.2% | 14,682 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% | 10,812 |
| COPD | All ages | 2.4% | 1.9% | 8,889 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.8% | 1.1% | 6,545 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.6% | 1.2% | 3,060 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 1.2% | 0.6% | 4,412 |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.1% | 0.8% | 4,227 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% | 3,330 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% | 3,738 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 2,466 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 2,590 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 2,506 |
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (1,856 patients per GP)
How many GP practices are there in Dorset?
37 practices are located in the Dorset council area, with 368,539 registered patients in September 2026.
Where are Dorset residents registered with a GP?
89% of the 399,103 registered residents are with a practice inside the council area; the practice outside it with the most is The Adam Practice (10,903).
How many patients are there per GP in Dorset?
1,953 patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP at practices in Dorset, against 2,171 across England.
Can you get a same-day GP appointment in Dorset?
42% of appointments at practices in Dorset took place on the day they were booked, against 45% across England.