Chelmer PCN: primary care network practices and patient survey
Chelmer PCN is a primary care network of 4 GP practices with 48,054 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 3,491 patients per qualified GP (England: 2,171).
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 4 practices in Chelmer PCN with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 49% at Sutherland Lodge Surgery to 86% at North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre, with a median of 67% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 3 below by more than the survey's margin of error. North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (73%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre | 19,247 | 86% | 73% | Good | 4,450 |
| Rivermead Gate Medical Centre | 13,355 | 68% | 39% | Good | 3,295 |
| Chelmer Village Surgery | 5,071 | 66% | 63% | Good | 2,817 |
| Sutherland Lodge Surgery | 10,381 | 49% | 11% | Good | 2,894 |
Results for the network as a whole, from 418 responses, against Essex and England.
| Survey question | Chelmer PCN | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 69% | 74% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 47% | 50% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 64% | 56% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 48% | 51% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 82% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 68% | 70% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 75% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 82% | 84% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 81% | 83% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 89% | 91% | 93% |
| Needs met | 91% | 89% | 90% |
There are 3,491 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Chelmer PCN, more than England's 2,171 and Essex's 2,514. Practices recorded 386 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 70% of them face to face. 46% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
12% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists grew by 4.2% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Chelmer PCN | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 3,491 | 2,514 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 386 | 480 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 70% | 69% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 12% | 20% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest below England's rate at practices in Chelmer PCN is osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%).
| Condition register | Age group | Chelmer PCN (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 10.5% | 15.2% | 4,766 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 8.6% | 14.3% | 3,044 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.6% | 7.9% | 2,361 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 5.4% | 6.6% | 2,295 |
| Cancer | All ages | 2.4% | 3.8% | 1,111 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 1.9% | 4.6% | 657 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 1.8% | 3.0% | 812 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.5% | 2.2% | 687 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.1% | 1.9% | 522 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.9% | 1.0% | 427 |
| COPD | All ages | 0.8% | 1.9% | 387 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 245 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.7% | 0.8% | 308 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 237 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.5% | 1.1% | 228 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% | 147 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% | 140 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% | 36 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.2% | 0.6% | 113 |
- Aegros Health PCN (4 practices)
- Chelmsford City Health PCN (4 practices)
- Chelmsford West PCN (2 practices)
- Dengie & South Woodham Ferrers PCN (6 practices)
Which practices are in Chelmer PCN?
Chelmer Village Surgery, North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre, Rivermead Gate Medical Centre and Sutherland Lodge Surgery.
How do patients rate Chelmer PCN?
69% described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, below the England figure of 77%.
How many patients does Chelmer PCN cover?
48,054 registered patients across 4 practices in September 2026.
How many patients per GP does Chelmer PCN have?
3,491 per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.