Dr Alan Dow, Glossop: patient reviews and CQC rating
Dr Alan Dow is a GP practice in Glossop with 2,322 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 86% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Derby and Derbyshire: 76%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in July 2018. It has 1.2 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,873 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Dr Alan Dow
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 90%, above the England figure of 57%. Its result closest to England is the share who said their needs were met at their last appointment: 92%, against 90% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 8 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 3 within it.
On overall experience it is 2nd of the 4 practices in Glossop with 50 or more responses. 90% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 3 points lower than in 2025 (89%). 137 patients answered the survey (response rate 24%).
| Survey question | Dr Alan Dow | Derby and Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 86% | 76% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 90% | 51% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 68% | 53% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 63% | 46% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 95% | 84% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 88% | 68% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 79% | 69% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 94% | 87% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 93% | 86% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 98% | 92% | 93% |
| Needs met | 92% | 90% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for Dr Alan Dow is Good, published in July 2018. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (May 2015).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
2,322 patients were registered at Dr Alan Dow in September 2026, almost the same as a year earlier.
17% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 1.2 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,873 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Derby and Derbyshire's 2,105. The practice also has 0.8 nurses and 0.1 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 1.6 | 3.5 |
| August 2024 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| August 2025 | 1.8 | 4.6 |
| August 2026 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 1,928 appointments a month, or 830 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 75% were face to face (England: 63%). 59% took place on the day they were booked and 3% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
41% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 5% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Dr Alan Dow | Derby and Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 830 | 523 | 510 |
| Face to face | 75% | 68% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 59% | 39% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 3% | 9% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for COPD (6.5% against 1.9%), peripheral arterial disease (1.3% against 0.6%) and depression (31.4% against 14.3%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 38.3 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 80.4 years for women and 77.1 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 31.4% | 14.3% |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.9% | 15.2% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 9.8% | 6.6% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 9.2% | 7.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 6.5% | 1.9% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.1% | 4.6% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.9% | 3.0% |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.5% | 3.8% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.6% | 2.2% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.6% | 1.0% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 72.2% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 70.4% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 79.5% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 78.6% | 74.9% |
Dr Alan Dow, Cottage Lane Surgery, 47 Cottage Lane, Gamesley, Glossop, SK13 6EQ. Phone: 01457 861343. Website: www.cottagelanesurgery.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Simmondley Medical Practice | 1.1 km | 84% |
| The Smithy Surgery | 1.8 km | 76% |
| Lambgates Health Centre | 1.9 km | 92% |
| Awburn House Medical Practice | 2.4 km | 93% |
| Dr G Wilkinson & Partners | 2.4 km | 84% |
- Dr G Wilkinson & Partners (84% overall experience good)
- Lambgates Health Centre (92% overall experience good)
- Simmondley Medical Practice (84% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Dr Alan Dow?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 86% of patients described their overall experience of Dr Alan Dow as good, above the England figure of 77%. 90% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Dr Alan Dow?
2,322 patients were registered in September 2026, down 0.3% on a year earlier.
What is Dr Alan Dow's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in July 2018.
How many GPs does Dr Alan Dow have?
1.2 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (3 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,873 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Dr Alan Dow face to face?
75% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Dr Alan Dow's phone number?
01457 861343.