Durham West PCN: primary care network practices and patient survey
Durham West PCN is a primary care network of 3 GP practices with 50,552 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 82% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77%. Its practices have 2,088 patients per qualified GP (England: 2,171).
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 3 practices in Durham West PCN with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 74% at Dunelm Medical Practice to 85% at The Medical Group, with a median of 84% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error. The Medical Group 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Medical Group | 26,440 | 85% | 76% | Good | 2,599 |
| Chastleton Medical Group | 9,944 | 84% | 53% | Good | 1,512 |
| Dunelm Medical Practice | 14,168 | 74% | 54% | Good | 1,901 |
Results for the network as a whole, from 337 responses, against North East and North Cumbria and England.
| Survey question | Durham West PCN | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 82% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 65% | 62% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 71% | 59% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 62% | 58% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 93% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 81% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 79% | 72% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 91% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 90% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 96% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 93% | 91% | 90% |
There are 2,088 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Durham West PCN, close to England's 2,171 and North East and North Cumbria's 2,088. Practices recorded 613 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 65% of them face to face. 42% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
23% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 1.8% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Durham West PCN | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,088 | 2,088 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 613 | 550 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 65% | 68% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 42% | 42% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 23% | 22% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Durham West PCN is stroke and tia (2.5% against 1.9%), and the furthest below is chronic kidney disease (4.1% against 4.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Durham West PCN (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 18.4% | 15.2% | 9,499 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 15.6% | 14.3% | 6,531 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 9.5% | 7.9% | 4,029 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.7% | 6.6% | 3,781 |
| Cancer | All ages | 4.3% | 3.8% | 2,209 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.1% | 4.6% | 1,718 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.8% | 3.0% | 1,965 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.5% | 2.2% | 1,301 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1,274 |
| COPD | All ages | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1,223 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.4% | 1.1% | 733 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.4% | 1.2% | 298 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% | 534 |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.0% | 0.8% | 522 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% | 361 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 355 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 363 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 348 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 334 |
- Bishop Auckland PCN (3 practices)
- Chester le Street PCN (7 practices)
- Derwentside PCN (12 practices)
- Durham Coast PCN (4 practices)
- Durham East PCN (5 practices)
- Easington Central PCN (3 practices)
- North Easington PCN (5 practices)
- Sedgefield 1 PCN (4 practices)
- Sedgefield North PCN (5 practices)
- Teesdale PCN (6 practices)
- Wear Valley PCN (3 practices)
Which practices are in Durham West PCN?
Chastleton Medical Group, Dunelm Medical Practice and The Medical Group.
How do patients rate Durham West PCN?
82% described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, above the England figure of 77%.
How many patients does Durham West PCN cover?
50,552 registered patients across 3 practices in September 2026.
How many patients per GP does Durham West PCN have?
2,088 per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.