Brent Area Medical Centre, Highbridge: patient reviews and CQC rating
Brent Area Medical Centre is a GP practice in Highbridge with 3,642 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 80% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Somerset: 79%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in December 2015. It has 2.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,842 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Brent Area Medical Centre
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 78%, above the England figure of 57%. Its weakest is the share who described their last contact with the practice as good: 72%, against 73% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 6 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 5 within it.
78% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 11 points lower than in 2025 (91%). 120 patients answered the survey (response rate 47%).
| Survey question | Brent Area Medical Centre | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 80% | 79% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 78% | 60% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 57% | 61% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 57% | 59% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 84% | 87% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 72% | 75% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 87% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 96% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 96% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 98% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 98% | 91% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for Brent Area Medical Centre is Good, published in December 2015. One key question is rated differently: Responsive Outstanding.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Outstanding |
| Effective | Good |
3,642 patients were registered at Brent Area Medical Centre in September 2026, up 4.4% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
33% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,842 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Somerset's 1,975. The practice also has 0.9 nurses and 0.6 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| August 2024 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| August 2025 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| August 2026 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 1,656 appointments a month, or 455 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 52% were face to face (England: 63%). 47% took place on the day they were booked and 2% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
55% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 2% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Brent Area Medical Centre | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 455 | 494 | 510 |
| Face to face | 52% | 65% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 47% | 41% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 2% | 7% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 2% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for osteoporosis (3.5% against 1.2%), atrial fibrillation (4.2% against 2.2%) and stroke or TIA (3.4% against 1.9%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 17.5 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 84.1 years for women and 80.2 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 22.4% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.2% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 10.1% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.7% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 7.6% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 6.6% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.4% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.2% | 2.2% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 3.5% | 1.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 3.4% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 80.2% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 82.8% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 80.6% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 88.0% | 74.9% |
Brent Area Medical Centre, Anvil House, Brent Road, East Brent, Highbridge, TA9 4JD. Phone: 01278 760313. Website: www.brentareamedicalcentre.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Symphony North Healthcare | 4.8 km | 57% |
| Tudor Lodge Surgery | 8.1 km | 79% |
| Axbridge & Wedmore Medical Practice | 8.5 km | 70% |
| 168 Medical Group | 9.3 km | 65% |
| Winscombe Family Practice | 9.4 km | 84% |
- Axbridge & Wedmore Medical Practice (70% overall experience good)
- Cheddar Medical Centre (84% overall experience good)
- Symphony North Healthcare (57% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Brent Area Medical Centre?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 80% of patients described their overall experience of Brent Area Medical Centre as good, against 77% across England. 78% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Brent Area Medical Centre?
3,642 patients were registered in September 2026, up 4.4% on a year earlier.
What is Brent Area Medical Centre's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in December 2015.
How many GPs does Brent Area Medical Centre have?
2.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (4 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,842 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Brent Area Medical Centre face to face?
52% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Brent Area Medical Centre's phone number?
01278 760313.