GP practices in the Lancaster council area: access and ratings
There are 4 GP practices in the Lancaster council area, with 155,913 registered patients between them (September 2026). 157,592 people living in Lancaster were registered with a GP in July 2026, 95% of them at a practice inside the council area. Practices in Lancaster have 2,174 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 4 practices in Lancaster with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 75% at Queen Square Medical Practice to 83% at Lancaster Medical Practice, with a median of 80% (England: 77%). None differs from England by more than the survey's margin of error. Ash Trees Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (65%, England 57%).
| Practice | Residents registered (July 2026) | Registered patients (September 2026) | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Medical Practice | 62,329 | 62,739 | 83% | 51% | Outstanding | 2,157 |
| Ash Trees Surgery | 17,305 | 23,849 | 82% | 65% | Good | 2,440 |
| Bay Medical Group | 53,871 | 53,972 | 77% | 44% | Requires improvement | 2,312 |
| Queen Square Medical Practice | 15,518 | 15,353 | 75% | 55% | Good | 1,617 |
There are 2,174 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Lancaster, close to England's 2,171 and Lancashire and South Cumbria's 2,288. Practices recorded 447 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 67% of them face to face. 41% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
21% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 1.8% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Lancaster | Lancashire and South Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,174 | 2,288 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 447 | 471 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 67% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 41% | 42% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 21% | 21% | 19% |
95% of Lancaster's registered residents are with a practice in the council area. The practices outside it with the most Lancaster residents are Drs Irving, Smith, Hacking & Rylance (3,142), Lunesdale Surgery (2,804) and Bentham Medical Practice (968).
| Practice outside the council area | Residents of Lancaster registered | Town |
|---|---|---|
| Drs Irving, Smith, Hacking & Rylance | 3,142 | Milnthorpe |
| Lunesdale Surgery | 2,804 | Carnforth |
| Bentham Medical Practice | 968 | Lancaster |
| Garstang Medical Practice | 888 | Preston |
| Cartmel Surgery | 28 | Grange-over-sands |
| The Over-Wyre Medical Centre | 28 | Poulton Le Fylde |
| Nutwood Medical Practice | 26 | Grange over Sands |
| The James Cochrane Practice | 25 | Kendal |
| Hazeldene Medical Centre | 21 | Wembley |
| Captain French Surgery | 14 | Kendal |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Lancaster is peripheral arterial disease (0.9% against 0.6%), and the furthest below is learning disability (0.5% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Lancaster (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 18.6% | 14.3% | 24,768 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 15.5% | 15.2% | 24,926 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.3% | 7.9% | 9,839 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.2% | 6.6% | 11,041 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.7% | 4.6% | 6,310 |
| Cancer | All ages | 4.1% | 3.8% | 6,565 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.4% | 3.0% | 5,473 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.5% | 2.2% | 4,026 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% | 3,667 |
| COPD | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% | 3,661 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1,053 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1,825 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1,771 |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1,709 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1,471 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1,204 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1,190 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1,079 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% | 831 |
- Blackburn with Darwen (2,633 patients per GP)
- Blackpool (2,287 patients per GP)
- Burnley (2,706 patients per GP)
- Chorley (2,542 patients per GP)
- Cumberland (2,436 patients per GP)
- Fylde (2,192 patients per GP)
- Hyndburn (2,413 patients per GP)
- North Yorkshire (1,777 patients per GP)
- Pendle (2,424 patients per GP)
- Preston (2,846 patients per GP)
- Ribble Valley (1,639 patients per GP)
- Rossendale (2,243 patients per GP)
- South Ribble (2,185 patients per GP)
- West Lancashire (2,241 patients per GP)
- Westmorland and Furness (1,759 patients per GP)
- Wyre (2,643 patients per GP)
How many GP practices are there in Lancaster?
4 practices are located in the Lancaster council area, with 155,913 registered patients in September 2026.
Where are Lancaster residents registered with a GP?
95% of the 157,592 registered residents are with a practice inside the council area; the practice outside it with the most is Drs Irving, Smith, Hacking & Rylance (3,142).
How many patients are there per GP in Lancaster?
2,174 patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP at practices in Lancaster, against 2,171 across England.
Can you get a same-day GP appointment in Lancaster?
41% of appointments at practices in Lancaster took place on the day they were booked, against 45% across England.