Howdale Group Practice, Downham Market: patient reviews and CQC rating
Howdale Group Practice is a GP practice in Downham Market with 7,936 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 85% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Norfolk and Suffolk: 80%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in August 2018. It has 2.3 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 3,450 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Howdale Group Practice
Its best result against England is the share who described their last contact with the practice as good: 85%, above the England figure of 73%. Its result closest to England is the share who said the wait for their last appointment was about right: 70%, against 69% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 3 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 8 within it.
On overall experience it is 1st of the 3 practices in Downham Market with 50 or more responses. 66% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 16 points higher than in 2025 (69%). 121 patients answered the survey (response rate 37%).
| Survey question | Howdale Group Practice | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 85% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 66% | 61% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 62% | 62% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 58% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 90% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 85% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 70% | 74% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 88% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 87% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 96% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 97% | 92% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 95% of 186 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for Howdale Group Practice is Good, published in August 2018. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (March 2016).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
7,936 patients were registered at Howdale Group Practice in September 2026, up 0.6% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
29% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.3 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 3,450 patients per GP, more than the England figure of 2,171 and Norfolk and Suffolk's 2,133. The practice also has 2.2 nurses and 8.1 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| August 2024 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| August 2025 | 2.3 | 4.4 |
| August 2026 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 4,380 appointments a month, or 552 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 70% were face to face (England: 63%). 35% took place on the day they were booked and 13% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
35% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Howdale Group Practice | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 552 | 578 | 510 |
| Face to face | 70% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 35% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 13% | 8% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for atrial fibrillation (3.6% against 2.2%), chronic kidney disease (7.4% against 4.6%) and cancer (6.0% against 3.8%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 19.8 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 83.4 years for women and 80.0 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 19.7% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 15.3% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 10.0% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.7% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 7.4% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 6.0% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.6% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.6% | 2.2% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 77.4% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 83.3% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 72.0% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 75.3% | 74.9% |
Howdale Group Practice, Howdale Surgery, 48 Howdale Road, Downham Market, PE38 9AF. Phone: 01366 383405. Website: www.howdalesurgery.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Street Surgery | 0.5 km | 78% |
| The Hollies Surgery | 0.6 km | 71% |
| Watlington Medical Centre | 7.3 km | 69% |
| Boughton Surgery | 8.7 km | 79% |
| Upwell Health Centre | 10.6 km | 70% |
- Bridge Street Surgery (78% overall experience good)
- Campingland Surgery (79% 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 Howdale Group Practice?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 85% of patients described their overall experience of Howdale Group Practice as good, above the England figure of 77%. 66% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Howdale Group Practice?
7,936 patients were registered in September 2026, up 0.6% on a year earlier.
What is Howdale Group Practice's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in August 2018.
How many GPs does Howdale Group Practice have?
2.3 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (3 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 3,450 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Howdale Group Practice face to face?
70% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Howdale Group Practice's phone number?
01366 383405.