Bridge Street Surgery, Downham Market: patient reviews and CQC rating
Bridge Street Surgery is a GP practice in Downham Market with 8,312 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 78% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Norfolk and Suffolk: 80%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in February 2017. It has 4.7 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,759 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Bridge Street Surgery
Its best result against England is the share who said the wait for their last appointment was about right: 77%, against 69% across England. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 40%, below the England figure of 57%. Of the 11 results in the table, 1 is above England and 1 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 9 within it.
On overall experience it is 2nd of the 3 practices in Downham Market with 50 or more responses. 40% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 12 points higher than in 2025 (66%). 114 patients answered the survey (response rate 39%).
| Survey question | Bridge Street Surgery | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 78% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 40% | 61% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 54% | 62% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 45% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 85% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 73% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 77% | 74% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 94% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 86% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 96% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 91% | 92% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 92% of 60 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for Bridge Street Surgery is Good, published in February 2017. All 5 key questions are rated Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
8,312 patients were registered at Bridge Street Surgery in September 2026, down 2.2% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
32% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 4.7 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,759 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Norfolk and Suffolk's 2,133. The practice also has 1.7 nurses and 5.6 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 4.5 | 5.5 |
| August 2024 | 4.0 | 5.1 |
| August 2025 | 4.0 | 4.9 |
| August 2026 | 4.7 | 5.8 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 7,675 appointments a month, or 923 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 54% were face to face (England: 63%). 49% took place on the day they were booked and 10% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
46% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 2% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Bridge Street Surgery | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 923 | 578 | 510 |
| Face to face | 54% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 49% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 10% | 8% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 2% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for atrial fibrillation (4.3% against 2.2%), dementia (1.5% against 0.8%) and stroke or TIA (3.4% against 1.9%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.5% against 1.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 20.1 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 83.1 years for women and 79.6 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 22.4% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 12.5% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 11.0% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.5% | 6.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 6.0% | 3.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 5.7% | 4.6% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.7% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.3% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 3.4% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 3.0% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.5% | 0.8% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 76.7% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 81.4% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 75.6% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 78.0% | 74.9% |
Bridge Street Surgery, The Bridge Street Surgery, 30-32 Bridge Street, Downham Market, PE38 9DH. Phone: 01366 388888. Website: www.bridgestreetsurgery.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| The Hollies Surgery | 0.1 km | 71% |
| Howdale Group Practice | 0.5 km | 85% |
| Watlington Medical Centre | 7.2 km | 69% |
| Boughton Surgery | 9.1 km | 79% |
| Upwell Health Centre | 10.2 km | 70% |
- Campingland Surgery (79% overall experience good)
- Howdale Group Practice (85% overall experience good)
- Litcham Health Centre (73% overall experience good)
- Manor Farm Medical Centre (75% overall experience good)
- Plowright Medical Centre (88% overall experience good)
- The Hollies Surgery (71% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Bridge Street Surgery?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 78% of patients described their overall experience of Bridge Street Surgery as good, against 77% across England. 40% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Bridge Street Surgery?
8,312 patients were registered in September 2026, down 2.2% on a year earlier.
What is Bridge Street Surgery's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in February 2017.
How many GPs does Bridge Street Surgery have?
4.7 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (6 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,759 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Bridge Street Surgery face to face?
54% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Bridge Street Surgery's phone number?
01366 388888.