Abbey Field PCN: primary care network practices and patient survey
Abbey Field PCN is a primary care network of 6 GP practices with 78,031 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 69% of its patients described their overall experience as good, below the England figure of 77%. Its practices have 2,655 patients per qualified GP (England: 2,171).
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 6 practices in Abbey Field PCN with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 64% at Tollgate Medical Centre to 83% at East Hill Surgery, with a median of 66% (England: 77%). 0 are above England and 4 below by more than the survey's margin of error. East Hill Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (66%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Hill Surgery | 9,444 | 83% | 66% | Good | 2,146 |
| Wivenhoe Medical Centre | 9,049 | 73% | 56% | – | 2,167 |
| Ambrose Avenue Group Practice | 13,826 | 66% | 18% | – | 2,795 |
| Rowhedge & University of Essex Medical Practice | 13,896 | 66% | 63% | – | 2,140 |
| Abbey Field Medical Centre | 21,720 | 66% | 45% | Good | 2,843 |
| Tollgate Medical Centre | 10,096 | 64% | 39% | – | 5,825 |
Results for the network as a whole, from 642 responses, against Essex and England.
| Survey question | Abbey Field PCN | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 69% | 74% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 47% | 50% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 57% | 56% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 56% | 51% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 80% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 67% | 70% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 68% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 83% | 84% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 81% | 83% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 92% | 91% | 93% |
| Needs met | 90% | 89% | 90% |
There are 2,655 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Abbey Field PCN, more than England's 2,171 and Essex's 2,514. Practices recorded 453 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 75% of them face to face. 41% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
17% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 2.7% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Abbey Field PCN | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,655 | 2,514 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 453 | 480 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 75% | 69% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 41% | 45% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 17% | 20% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Abbey Field PCN is palliative care (1.1% against 0.6%), and the furthest below is peripheral arterial disease (0.4% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Abbey Field PCN (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.5% | 14.3% | 8,990 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 12.1% | 15.2% | 9,822 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.4% | 6.6% | 4,884 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 5.9% | 7.9% | 3,993 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 3.7% | 4.6% | 2,453 |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.2% | 3.8% | 2,600 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.3% | 3.0% | 1,856 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.9% | 2.2% | 1,524 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1,246 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1,187 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.4% | 1.2% | 349 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 1.1% | 0.6% | 866 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% | 813 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.0% | 1.1% | 784 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 501 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.7% | 0.8% | 596 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 565 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 448 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 293 |
- Asop PCN (5 practices)
- Benfleet PCN (7 practices)
- Central Basildon PCN (8 practices)
- Creffield Medical Group PCN (2 practices)
- North Colchester PCN (7 practices)
- North Uttlesford PCN (4 practices)
- Rochford PCN (4 practices)
- Southend Victoria PCN (9 practices)
Which practices are in Abbey Field PCN?
Abbey Field Medical Centre, Ambrose Avenue Group Practice, East Hill Surgery, Rowhedge & University of Essex Medical Practice, Tollgate Medical Centre and Wivenhoe Medical Centre.
How do patients rate Abbey Field PCN?
69% described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, below the England figure of 77%.
How many patients does Abbey Field PCN cover?
78,031 registered patients across 6 practices in September 2026.
How many patients per GP does Abbey Field PCN have?
2,655 per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.