Fairfield Surgery, Etchingham: patient reviews and CQC rating
Fairfield Surgery is a GP practice in Etchingham with 4,179 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 88% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Surrey and Sussex: 78%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in June 2018. It has 2.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,773 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Fairfield Surgery
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 84%, above the England figure of 57%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to contact the practice through its website: 39%, against 58% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 4 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 7 within it.
84% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 6 points higher than in 2025 (82%). 102 patients answered the survey (response rate 38%).
| Survey question | Fairfield Surgery | Surrey and Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 88% | 78% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 84% | 55% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 39% | 59% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 50% | 54% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 95% | 86% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 89% | 73% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 78% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 91% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 90% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 97% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 94% | 91% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for Fairfield Surgery is Good, published in June 2018. All 5 key questions are rated Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
4,179 patients were registered at Fairfield Surgery in September 2026, down 1.0% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
32% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,773 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Surrey and Sussex's 2,031. The practice also has 1.6 nurses (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| August 2024 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| August 2025 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| August 2026 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 1,879 appointments a month, or 450 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 72% were face to face (England: 63%). 48% took place on the day they were booked and 9% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
43% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Fairfield Surgery | Surrey and Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 450 | 521 | 510 |
| Face to face | 72% | 58% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 9% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for osteoporosis (4.1% against 1.2%), atrial fibrillation (4.2% against 2.2%) and stroke or TIA (3.2% against 1.9%). It has a lower share for diabetes (6.0% against 7.9%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 17.1 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 83.9 years for women and 80.9 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 22.5% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.6% | 14.3% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 7.6% | 4.6% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.4% | 6.6% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.0% | 7.9% |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.6% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.2% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.2% | 2.2% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 4.1% | 1.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 3.2% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.9% | 1.0% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 77.6% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 78.9% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 73.0% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 77.7% | 74.9% |
Fairfield Surgery, High Street, Burwash, Etchingham, TN19 7EU. Phone: 01435 882306. Website: www.fairfieldsurgery.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Oldwood Surgery | 6.3 km | 98% |
| Wadhurst Medical Group | 7.8 km | 66% |
| Woodhill Surgery | 9.3 km | 91% |
| Weald View Medical Practice - Hawkhurst | 10.5 km | 79% |
| Lamberhurst Surgery | 10.8 km | 94% |
- Drs Parnell, Albardiaz, James and Dale (99% overall experience good)
- Ferry Road Health Centre (87% overall experience good)
- Martins Oak Surgery (93% overall experience good)
- Oldwood Surgery (98% overall experience good)
- Rye Medical Centre (88% overall experience good)
- Sedlescombe Surgery (81% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Fairfield Surgery?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 88% of patients described their overall experience of Fairfield Surgery as good, above the England figure of 77%. 84% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Fairfield Surgery?
4,179 patients were registered in September 2026, down 1.0% on a year earlier.
What is Fairfield Surgery's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in June 2018.
How many GPs does Fairfield Surgery have?
2.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (3 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,773 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Fairfield Surgery face to face?
72% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Fairfield Surgery's phone number?
01435 882306.