GP surgeries in Nelson: ratings and patient reviews
There are 7 GP practices in Nelson, with 55,571 registered patients between them (September 2026). The highest share of patients rating their overall experience as good is at Barrowford Surgery (89%, England 77%). Across the town there are 2,775 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 7 practices in Nelson with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 47% at Pendle Valley Mill Practice - Yarnspinners Branch to 89% at Barrowford Surgery, with a median of 77% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 3 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Barrowford Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (89%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrowford Surgery | 3,687 | 89% | 89% | Good | 7,681 |
| Whitefield Medical Services Limited | 3,979 | 80% | 64% | Good | 4,663 |
| Pendle View Medical Centre | 8,301 | 79% | 63% | Good | 1,342 |
| Reedyford Health Care | 14,364 | 77% | 58% | Good | 3,149 |
| Dr M Umar & Dr H Sadique | 10,891 | 65% | 30% | Good | 2,506 |
| Dr Qazi Jehangir | 2,526 | 62% | 46% | Good | 1,579 |
| Pendle Valley Mill Practice - Yarnspinners Branch | 11,823 | 47% | 20% | – | 5,912 |
There are 2,775 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Nelson, more than England's 2,171 and Lancashire and South Cumbria's 2,288. Practices recorded 426 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 72% of them face to face. 45% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
15% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 2.7% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Nelson | Lancashire and South Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,775 | 2,288 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 426 | 471 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 72% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 45% | 42% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 8% | 5% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 15% | 21% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Nelson is osteoporosis (1.9% against 1.2%), and the furthest below is palliative care (0.3% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Nelson (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 15.4% | 14.3% | 6,550 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 13.4% | 15.2% | 7,653 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 10.5% | 7.9% | 4,565 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.5% | 6.6% | 3,965 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.3% | 3.0% | 1,905 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 3.1% | 4.6% | 1,339 |
| Cancer | All ages | 2.8% | 3.8% | 1,605 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.9% | 1.2% | 327 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1,053 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1,012 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.6% | 2.2% | 889 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.2% | 1.1% | 667 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.1% | 1.0% | 608 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 356 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 297 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 377 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 365 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.6% | 0.8% | 348 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% | 185 |
How many GP practices are there in Nelson?
7, with 55,571 registered patients in September 2026.
Which GP practice in Nelson do patients rate highest?
Barrowford Surgery: 89% of patients described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, above the England figure of 77%.
How many patients are there per GP in Nelson?
2,775 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
How many GP appointments in Nelson are face to face?
72% of appointments at the town's practices were face to face, against 63% across England.