Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle, Henlow: patient reviews and CQC rating
Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle is a GP practice in Henlow with 7,277 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 79% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Central East: 75%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in May 2017. It has 3.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,415 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to contact the practice through its website: 78%, above the England figure of 58%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 42%, below the England figure of 57%. Of the 11 results in the table, 3 are above England and 1 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 7 within it.
42% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 3 points higher than in 2025 (76%). 118 patients answered the survey (response rate 36%).
| Survey question | Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 79% | 75% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 42% | 52% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 78% | 60% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 58% | 52% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 79% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 77% | 71% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 67% | 69% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 91% | 86% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 92% | 85% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 99% | 92% | 93% |
| Needs met | 94% | 89% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle is Good, published in May 2017. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (August 2016).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
7,277 patients were registered at Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle in September 2026, up 1.0% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
18% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 3.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,415 patients per GP, more than the England figure of 2,171 and Central East's 2,348. The practice also has 0.6 nurses and 0.5 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| August 2024 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| August 2025 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| August 2026 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 3,408 appointments a month, or 468 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 71% were face to face (England: 63%). 33% took place on the day they were booked and 8% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
53% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 468 | 521 | 510 |
| Face to face | 71% | 62% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 33% | 48% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 8% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a lower share of patients for osteoporosis (0.1% against 1.2%), a learning disability (0.2% against 0.6%) and palliative or supportive care needs (0.3% against 0.6%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 9.7 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 84.8 years for women and 80.8 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 13.4% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 12.6% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.4% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.7% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 3.3% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.2% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.3% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.8% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 1.2% | 1.9% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.1% | 1.2% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 80.5% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 82.2% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 80.4% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 81.3% | 74.9% |
Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle, 109 Station Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, SG16 6JJ. Phone: 01462 850305. Website: www.lowerstondon.gpsurgery.net.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Baxter and Partners | 3.2 km | 72% |
| Larksfield Surgery Medical Partnership | 5.4 km | 67% |
| The Nevells Road Surgery | 6.3 km | 66% |
| Regal Chambers Surgery | 6.5 km | 72% |
| Birchwood Surgery | 6.5 km | 58% |
- Dr Baxter and Partners (72% overall experience good)
- Larksfield Surgery Medical Partnership (67% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 79% of patients described their overall experience of Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle as good, against 77% across England. 42% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle?
7,277 patients were registered in September 2026, up 1.0% on a year earlier.
What is Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in May 2017.
How many GPs does Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle have?
3.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (5 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,415 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle face to face?
71% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle's phone number?
01462 850305.