GP surgeries in Rochester: ratings and patient reviews
There are 11 GP practices in Rochester, with 100,276 registered patients between them (September 2026). The highest share of patients rating their overall experience as good is at Riverside Medical Practice (88%, England 77%). Across the town there are 1,942 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 11 practices in Rochester with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 43% at The Thorndike Surgery to 88% at Riverside Medical Practice, with a median of 64% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 8 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Dr Chidambaram Balachander has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (86%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Medical Practice | 7,310 | 88% | 86% | Good | 2,117 |
| Dr Chidambaram Balachander | 4,196 | 82% | 86% | Good | 2,105 |
| The Elms Medical Centre | 12,579 | 69% | 23% | Requires improvement | 3,494 |
| Marlowe Park Medical Centre | 4,161 | 67% | 42% | Good | 599 |
| Court View Surgery | 10,444 | 67% | 35% | Good | 3,376 |
| Apex Medical Practice | 6,721 | 64% | 36% | Good | 4,033 |
| Phoenix Medical Practice | 6,286 | 58% | 45% | Good | 1,916 |
| St Werburgh Medical Practice | 8,426 | 56% | 35% | Good | 815 |
| City Way Surgery | 13,118 | 54% | 24% | Requires improvement | 2,817 |
| Cliffe Woods Surgery | 15,129 | 54% | 17% | Good | 2,133 |
| The Thorndike Surgery | 11,906 | 43% | 35% | Requires improvement | 2,164 |
There are 1,942 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Rochester, fewer than England's 2,171 and Kent and Medway's 2,419. Practices recorded 427 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 62% of them face to face. 37% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
18% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 1.5% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Rochester | Kent and Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 1,942 | 2,419 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 427 | 457 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 62% | 62% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 37% | 41% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 18% | 20% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Rochester is depression (19.1% against 14.3%), and the furthest below is palliative care (0.3% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Rochester (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 19.1% | 14.3% | 15,173 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.3% | 15.2% | 16,675 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.7% | 7.9% | 7,042 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.3% | 6.6% | 6,019 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 6.1% | 4.6% | 4,840 |
| Cancer | All ages | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4,074 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.7% | 3.0% | 2,784 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2,121 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1,830 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1,506 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.3% | 1.2% | 489 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1,121 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% | 785 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 660 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.8% | 1.0% | 806 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 669 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.6% | 0.8% | 646 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% | 466 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% | 293 |
How many GP practices are there in Rochester?
11, with 100,276 registered patients in September 2026.
Which GP practice in Rochester do patients rate highest?
Riverside Medical Practice: 88% of patients described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, above the England figure of 77%.
How many patients are there per GP in Rochester?
1,942 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
How many GP appointments in Rochester are face to face?
62% of appointments at the town's practices were face to face, against 63% across England.