University Medical Group, Reading: patient reviews and CQC rating
University Medical Group is a GP practice in Reading with 31,026 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 72% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Thames Valley: 76%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Outstanding overall, in a report published in July 2019. It has 10.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,995 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about University Medical Group
Its best result against England is the share who said the wait for their last appointment was about right: 82%, above the England figure of 69%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to contact the practice through its website: 38%, below the England figure of 58%. Of the 11 results in the table, 1 is above England and 1 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 9 within it.
On overall experience it is 23rd of the 31 practices in Reading with 50 or more responses. 53% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 14 points lower than in 2025 (86%). 179 patients answered the survey (response rate 19%).
| Survey question | University Medical Group | Thames Valley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 72% | 76% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 53% | 56% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 38% | 57% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 59% | 53% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 87% | 84% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 74% | 72% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 82% | 69% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 86% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 85% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 92% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 91% | 90% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 94% of 135 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for University Medical Group is Outstanding, published in July 2019. 3 key questions are rated differently: Safe Good, Caring Good and Effective Good. It held the same rating in the report before (May 2015).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Outstanding |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Outstanding |
| Effective | Good |
31,026 patients were registered at University Medical Group in September 2026, down 2.5% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
7% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 10.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,995 patients per GP, more than the England figure of 2,171 and Thames Valley's 2,121. The practice also has 2.3 nurses and 2.9 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 10.2 | 12.2 |
| August 2024 | 12.5 | 15.5 |
| August 2025 | 10.6 | 12.7 |
| August 2026 | 10.4 | 12.1 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 9,349 appointments a month, or 301 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 63% were face to face (England: 63%). 50% took place on the day they were booked and 2% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
44% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 4% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | University Medical Group | Thames Valley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 301 | 451 | 510 |
| Face to face | 63% | 60% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 50% | 45% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 2% | 4% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 4% | 5% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a lower share of patients for palliative or supportive care needs (0.1% against 0.6%), peripheral arterial disease (0.1% against 0.6%) and atrial fibrillation (0.7% against 2.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 15.7 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 82.5 years for women and 78.5 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 12.3% | 14.3% |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 7.6% | 15.2% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 4.3% | 6.6% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 2.0% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 1.8% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 1.0% | 3.0% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 0.7% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 0.7% | 1.9% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 0.7% | 2.2% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 72.8% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 72.2% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 74.4% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 80.7% | 74.9% |
University Medical Group, University Health Centre, 9 Northcourt Avenue, Reading, RG2 7HE. Phone: 0118 987 4551. Website: www.readinguniversitymedicalpractice.nhs.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Surgery | 0.9 km | 83% |
| Longbarn Lane Surgery | 1.0 km | 78% |
| Milman & Kennet Surgery | 1.0 km | 75% |
| Melrose Surgery, Reading | 1.3 km | 77% |
| Parkside Family Practice | 1.5 km | 78% |
How do patients rate University Medical Group?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 72% of patients described their overall experience of University Medical Group as good, against 77% across England. 53% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at University Medical Group?
31,026 patients were registered in September 2026, down 2.5% on a year earlier.
What is University Medical Group's CQC rating?
Outstanding overall, published in July 2019.
How many GPs does University Medical Group have?
10.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (15 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,995 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at University Medical Group face to face?
63% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is University Medical Group's phone number?
0118 987 4551.