The James Cochrane Practice, Kendal: patient reviews and CQC rating
The James Cochrane Practice is a GP practice in Kendal with 17,060 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 76% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Lancashire and South Cumbria: 78%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in April 2018. It has 9.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,901 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The James Cochrane Practice
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to contact the practice through its website: 72%, above the England figure of 58%. Its weakest is the share who had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional they saw: 90%, against 93% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 3 are above England and 0 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 Kendal with 50 or more responses. 71% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 5 points lower than in 2025 (81%). 95 patients answered the survey (response rate 29%).
| Survey question | The James Cochrane Practice | Lancashire and South Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 76% | 78% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 71% | 61% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 72% | 55% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 64% | 57% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 93% | 86% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 78% | 74% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 68% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 90% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 89% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 90% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 89% | 91% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for The James Cochrane Practice is Good, published in April 2018. One key question is rated differently: Responsive Outstanding. It held the same rating in the report before (July 2017).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Outstanding |
| Effective | Good |
17,060 patients were registered at The James Cochrane Practice in September 2026, down 1.1% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
28% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 9.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,901 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Lancashire and South Cumbria's 2,288. The practice also has 7.1 nurses and 13.1 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| August 2024 | 7.4 | 10.4 |
| August 2025 | 8.5 | 9.3 |
| August 2026 | 9.0 | 10.8 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 7,678 appointments a month, or 450 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 80% were face to face (England: 63%). 23% took place on the day they were booked and 23% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
42% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 5% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The James Cochrane Practice | Lancashire and South Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 450 | 471 | 510 |
| Face to face | 80% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 23% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 23% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 5% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for stroke or TIA (2.9% against 1.9%), dementia (1.2% against 0.8%) and atrial fibrillation (3.2% against 2.2%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.8% against 1.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 11.2 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 84.2 years for women and 80.1 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.6% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.2% | 14.3% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.7% | 6.6% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.6% | 7.9% |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.3% | 3.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.6% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.2% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| 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% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 82.5% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 81.6% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 75.7% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 80.5% | 74.9% |
The James Cochrane Practice, Helme Chase Surgery, Burton Road, Kendal, LA9 7HR. Phone: 01539 760760. Website: www.jamescochranepractice.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Captain French Surgery | 1.4 km | 95% |
| Station House Surgery | 2.1 km | 88% |
| Drs Irving, Smith, Hacking & Rylance | 9.7 km | 85% |
| Windermere and Bowness Medical Practice | 13.1 km | 97% |
| Sedbergh Medical Practice | 13.1 km | 93% |
- Captain French Surgery (95% overall experience good)
- Station House Surgery (88% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The James Cochrane Practice?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 76% of patients described their overall experience of The James Cochrane Practice as good, against 77% across England. 71% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The James Cochrane Practice?
17,060 patients were registered in September 2026, down 1.1% on a year earlier.
What is The James Cochrane Practice's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in April 2018.
How many GPs does The James Cochrane Practice have?
9.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (20 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,901 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The James Cochrane Practice face to face?
80% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The James Cochrane Practice's phone number?
01539 760760.