GP practices in the Dover council area: access and ratings
There are 13 GP practices in the Dover council area, with 119,215 registered patients between them (September 2026). 124,277 people living in Dover were registered with a GP in July 2026, 95% of them at a practice inside the council area. Practices in Dover have 2,335 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 13 practices in Dover with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 59% at Pencester Surgery to 90% at The New Golf Road Surgery, with a median of 75% (England: 77%). 2 are above England and 2 below by more than the survey's margin of error. The New Golf Road Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (87%, England 57%).
| Practice | Residents registered (July 2026) | Registered patients (September 2026) | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New Golf Road Surgery | 2,630 | 2,636 | 90% | 87% | Good | 1,387 |
| Lydden Surgery | 6,091 | 6,203 | 88% | 70% | Good | 5,605 |
| The Cedars Surgery | 11,266 | 11,346 | 81% | 56% | Requires improvement | 2,523 |
| High Street Surgery | 9,607 | 9,721 | 79% | 73% | Good | 4,378 |
| St James' Surgery | 9,525 | 9,464 | 78% | 56% | Good | 2,294 |
| Sandwich Medical Practice | 12,739 | 12,881 | 77% | 42% | Good | 1,622 |
| Balmoral Surgery | 11,512 | 11,573 | 75% | 44% | Outstanding | 1,954 |
| Dr S Schulz & Partners | 10,356 | 10,361 | 74% | 45% | Good | 1,914 |
| Ash Surgery | 4,490 | 4,728 | 73% | 50% | Good | 1,524 |
| The White Cliff Medical Centre | 9,699 | 9,811 | 70% | 50% | Good | 3,679 |
| Buckland Medical Practice | 10,093 | 10,038 | 69% | 64% | – | 2,046 |
| Aylesham Medical Practice | 8,381 | 8,927 | 63% | 46% | Good | 2,608 |
| Pencester Surgery | 11,452 | 11,526 | 59% | 33% | Good | 3,006 |
There are 2,335 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Dover, close to England's 2,171 and Kent and Medway's 2,419. Practices recorded 548 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 59% of them face to face. 49% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
25% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 0.4% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Dover | Kent and Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,335 | 2,419 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 548 | 457 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 59% | 62% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 49% | 41% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 25% | 20% | 19% |
95% of Dover's registered residents are with a practice in the council area. The practices outside it with the most Dover residents are Canterbury Medical Practice (2,640), The New Surgery (794) and The Hawkinge & Elham Valley Practice (388).
| Practice outside the council area | Residents of Dover registered | Town |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Medical Practice | 2,640 | Canterbury |
| The New Surgery | 794 | Folkestone |
| The Hawkinge & Elham Valley Practice | 388 | Canterbury |
| New Dover Road Surgery | 308 | Canterbury |
| Guildhall Surgery | 245 | Folkestone |
| The Manor Clinic | 213 | Folkestone |
| Minster Surgery | 213 | Ramsgate |
| Whitstable Medical Practice | 185 | Whitstable |
| Sturry Surgery | 154 | Canterbury |
| Northgate Medical Practice | 134 | Canterbury |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Dover is copd (3.1% against 1.9%), and the furthest below is osteoporosis (0.7% against 1.2%).
| Condition register | Age group | Dover (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 18.8% | 14.3% | 18,109 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 18.3% | 15.2% | 21,916 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.7% | 7.9% | 8,513 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.8% | 6.6% | 7,675 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 6.2% | 4.6% | 5,979 |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.5% | 3.8% | 6,600 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4,081 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.2% | 2.2% | 3,792 |
| COPD | All ages | 3.1% | 1.9% | 3,715 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2,754 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1,297 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1,276 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% | 985 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% | 985 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1,071 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1,015 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.7% | 1.2% | 377 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 797 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 424 |
- Ashford (2,146 patients per GP)
- Canterbury (2,102 patients per GP)
- Dartford (2,514 patients per GP)
- Folkestone and Hythe (2,293 patients per GP)
- Gravesham (2,720 patients per GP)
- Maidstone (2,895 patients per GP)
- Medway (2,609 patients per GP)
- Sevenoaks (2,569 patients per GP)
- Swale (2,404 patients per GP)
- Thanet (2,392 patients per GP)
- Tonbridge and Malling (2,283 patients per GP)
- Tunbridge Wells (2,207 patients per GP)
How many GP practices are there in Dover?
13 practices are located in the Dover council area, with 119,215 registered patients in September 2026.
Where are Dover residents registered with a GP?
95% of the 124,277 registered residents are with a practice inside the council area; the practice outside it with the most is Canterbury Medical Practice (2,640).
How many patients are there per GP in Dover?
2,335 patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP at practices in Dover, against 2,171 across England.
Can you get a same-day GP appointment in Dover?
49% of appointments at practices in Dover took place on the day they were booked, against 45% across England.