The Hollies Surgery, Downham Market: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Hollies Surgery is a GP practice in Downham Market with 5,147 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 71% 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 May 2015. It has 1.6 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 3,138 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Hollies Surgery
Its best result against England is the share who found the reception and administrative team helpful: 85%, against 85% across England. Its weakest is the share who said the wait for their last appointment was about right: 56%, below the England figure of 69%. Of the 11 results in the table, 0 are above England and 3 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 8 within it.
On overall experience it is 3rd of the 3 practices in Downham Market with 50 or more responses. 57% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 7 points higher than in 2025 (64%). 91 patients answered the survey (response rate 26%).
| Survey question | The Hollies Surgery | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 71% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 57% | 61% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 57% | 62% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 46% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 85% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 69% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 56% | 74% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 84% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 78% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 87% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 87% | 92% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for The Hollies Surgery is Good, published in May 2015. All 5 key questions are rated Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
5,147 patients were registered at The Hollies Surgery in September 2026, up 5.2% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
22% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 1.6 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 3,138 patients per GP, more than the England figure of 2,171 and Norfolk and Suffolk's 2,133. The practice also has 0.0 nurses (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 2.3 | 2.9 |
| August 2024 | 2.3 | 3.1 |
| August 2025 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| August 2026 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 3,386 appointments a month, or 658 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 89% were face to face (England: 63%). 35% took place on the day they were booked and 6% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
54% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 8% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The Hollies Surgery | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 658 | 578 | 510 |
| Face to face | 89% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 35% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 6% | 8% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 8% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for stroke or TIA (2.5% against 1.9%) and asthma (8.0% against 6.6%). 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 20.6 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 83.1 years for women and 79.4 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 15.1% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 12.8% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 9.3% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.0% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.2% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.2% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.6% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.9% | 1.0% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 72.7% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 73.5% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 66.2% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 73.0% | 74.9% |
The Hollies Surgery, Paradise Road, Downham Market, PE38 9JE. Phone: 01366 389289. Website: www.vidahealthcare.nhs.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Street Surgery | 0.1 km | 78% |
| Howdale Group Practice | 0.6 km | 85% |
| Watlington Medical Centre | 7.1 km | 69% |
| Boughton Surgery | 9.3 km | 79% |
| Upwell Health Centre | 10.1 km | 70% |
- Bridge Street Surgery (78% overall experience good)
- 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)
How do patients rate The Hollies Surgery?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 71% of patients described their overall experience of The Hollies Surgery as good, against 77% across England. 57% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Hollies Surgery?
5,147 patients were registered in September 2026, up 5.2% on a year earlier.
What is The Hollies Surgery's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in May 2015.
How many GPs does The Hollies Surgery have?
1.6 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (2 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 3,138 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Hollies Surgery face to face?
89% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Hollies Surgery's phone number?
01366 389289.