Ascent PCN: primary care network practices and patient survey
Ascent PCN is a primary care network of 3 GP practices with 35,511 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 80% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England. Its practices have 2,365 patients per qualified GP (England: 2,171).
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 3 practices in Ascent PCN with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 73% at Walnut Tree Health Centre to 87% at Asplands Medical Centre, with a median of 79% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Asplands Medical Centre has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (76%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asplands Medical Centre | 12,719 | 87% | 76% | Good | 1,561 |
| Fishermead Medical Centre | 7,777 | 79% | 57% | Good | 3,391 |
| Walnut Tree Health Centre | 15,015 | 73% | 59% | Good | 3,283 |
Results for the network as a whole, from 323 responses, against Central East and England.
| Survey question | Ascent PCN | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 80% | 75% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 65% | 52% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 65% | 60% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 57% | 52% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 93% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 78% | 71% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 70% | 69% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 90% | 86% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 89% | 85% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 93% | 92% | 93% |
| Needs met | 92% | 89% | 90% |
There are 2,365 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Ascent PCN, close to England's 2,171 and Central East's 2,348. Practices recorded 452 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 78% of them face to face. 36% 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 0.5% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Ascent PCN | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,365 | 2,348 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 452 | 521 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 78% | 62% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 36% | 48% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 4% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 15% | 17% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest below England's rate at practices in Ascent PCN is palliative care (0.2% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Ascent PCN (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 13.6% | 15.2% | 4,801 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 11.6% | 14.3% | 3,223 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.4% | 7.9% | 1,823 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 5.9% | 6.6% | 1,959 |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.2% | 3.8% | 1,138 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 2.6% | 4.6% | 731 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.0% | 3.0% | 703 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.8% | 2.2% | 634 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.7% | 1.9% | 595 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.2% | 1.9% | 430 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.8% | 1.1% | 299 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.8% | 1.0% | 293 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 193 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.6% | 0.8% | 165 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.6% | 1.2% | 71 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.5% | 0.8% | 165 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 142 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 128 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.2% | 0.6% | 76 |
- Crown PCN (2 practices)
- East Mk PCN (4 practices)
- Nexus Mk PCN (5 practices)
- Onemk PCN (2 practices)
- South West PCN (4 practices)
- Unity (Bedford) PCN (6 practices)
Which practices are in Ascent PCN?
Asplands Medical Centre, Fishermead Medical Centre and Walnut Tree Health Centre.
How do patients rate Ascent PCN?
80% described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, against 77% across England.
How many patients does Ascent PCN cover?
35,511 registered patients across 3 practices in September 2026.
How many patients per GP does Ascent PCN have?
2,365 per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.