GP surgeries in Dorchester: ratings and patient reviews
There are 7 GP practices in Dorchester, with 47,308 registered patients between them (September 2026). The highest share of patients rating their overall experience as good is at Puddletown Surgery (97%, England 77%). Across the town there are 1,655 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 7 practices in Dorchester with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 73% at Atrium Health Centre to 97% at Puddletown Surgery, with a median of 93% (England: 77%). 6 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Fordington Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (99%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puddletown Surgery | 4,335 | 97% | 99% | Good | 1,556 |
| The Prince of Wales Surgery | 9,940 | 96% | 78% | Good | 1,405 |
| Fordington Surgery | 5,429 | 94% | 99% | Good | 1,100 |
| Poundbury Doctors Surgery | 8,225 | 93% | 89% | Good | 2,157 |
| Cerne Abbas Surgery | 4,179 | 91% | 96% | Good | 1,380 |
| Queens Avenue Surgery | 8,751 | 87% | 86% | Good | – |
| Atrium Health Centre | 6,449 | 73% | 65% | Good | 3,901 |
There are 1,655 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Dorchester, fewer than England's 2,171 and Dorset's 1,904. Practices recorded 599 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 64% of them face to face. 35% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
30% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists grew by 0.1% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Dorchester | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 1,655 | 1,904 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 599 | 612 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 64% | 63% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 35% | 43% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 30% | 26% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Dorchester is palliative care (1.5% against 0.6%), and the furthest below is depression (11.8% against 14.3%).
| Condition register | Age group | Dorchester (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 18.8% | 15.2% | 8,857 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 11.8% | 14.3% | 4,680 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.7% | 6.6% | 3,929 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.5% | 7.9% | 2,996 |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.4% | 3.8% | 2,558 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.9% | 4.6% | 1,944 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.3% | 3.0% | 2,029 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.9% | 2.2% | 1,834 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1,364 |
| COPD | All ages | 2.1% | 1.9% | 971 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 1.5% | 0.6% | 695 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.4% | 1.2% | 347 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.4% | 1.1% | 642 |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.1% | 0.8% | 538 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% | 448 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% | 383 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 335 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 302 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 299 |
How many GP practices are there in Dorchester?
7, with 47,308 registered patients in September 2026.
Which GP practice in Dorchester do patients rate highest?
Puddletown Surgery: 97% of patients described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, above the England figure of 77%.
How many patients are there per GP in Dorchester?
1,655 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
How many GP appointments in Dorchester are face to face?
64% of appointments at the town's practices were face to face, against 63% across England.