Barnstaple Alliance PCN: primary care network practices and patient survey
Barnstaple Alliance PCN is a primary care network of 4 GP practices with 55,513 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 84% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77%. Its practices have 1,855 patients per qualified GP (England: 2,171).
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 4 practices in Barnstaple Alliance PCN with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 78% at Queen's Medical Centre to 90% at Brannam Medical Centre, with a median of 81% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Litchdon Medical Centre has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (80%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brannam Medical Centre | 19,521 | 90% | 77% | Good | 1,633 |
| Litchdon Medical Centre | 16,759 | 82% | 80% | Outstanding | 1,990 |
| Fremington Medical Centre | 7,945 | 79% | 68% | Good | 1,216 |
| Queen's Medical Centre | 11,288 | 78% | 53% | Good | 3,739 |
Results for the network as a whole, from 403 responses, against Devon and England.
| Survey question | Barnstaple Alliance PCN | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 84% | 79% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 72% | 59% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 67% | 62% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 63% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 91% | 87% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 78% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 61% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 87% | 90% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 87% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 92% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 92% | 91% | 90% |
There are 1,855 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Barnstaple Alliance PCN, fewer than England's 2,171 and Devon's 1,863. Practices recorded 575 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 71% of them face to face. 31% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
25% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 0.5% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Barnstaple Alliance PCN | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 1,855 | 1,863 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 575 | 626 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 71% | 54% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 31% | 45% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 25% | 25% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Barnstaple Alliance PCN is coronary heart disease (4.8% against 3.0%), and the furthest below is osteoporosis (0.8% against 1.2%).
| Condition register | Age group | Barnstaple Alliance PCN (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.7% | 15.2% | 9,306 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 14.0% | 14.3% | 6,360 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.7% | 6.6% | 4,616 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.1% | 7.9% | 3,753 |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.1% | 3.8% | 2,845 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.9% | 4.6% | 2,209 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.8% | 3.0% | 2,651 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.1% | 2.2% | 1,720 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1,594 |
| COPD | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1,277 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.5% | 1.1% | 809 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.2% | 1.0% | 649 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% | 459 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% | 457 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.9% | 0.8% | 487 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.8% | 1.2% | 210 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 404 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% | 298 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% | 272 |
- Coast and Country PCN (4 practices)
- Mid Devon Healthcare PCN (3 practices)
- North Devon Coastal PCN (3 practices)
- Outer Exeter PCN (6 practices)
- Sound PCN (5 practices)
- Tasc PCN (3 practices)
- Tiverton PCN (3 practices)
- West Devon PCN (3 practices)
Which practices are in Barnstaple Alliance PCN?
Brannam Medical Centre, Fremington Medical Centre, Litchdon Medical Centre and Queen's Medical Centre.
How do patients rate Barnstaple Alliance PCN?
84% described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, above the England figure of 77%.
How many patients does Barnstaple Alliance PCN cover?
55,513 registered patients across 4 practices in September 2026.
How many patients per GP does Barnstaple Alliance PCN have?
1,855 per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.