The Grove Medical Centre, Sherborne: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Grove Medical Centre is a GP practice in Sherborne with 13,028 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 92% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Dorset: 80%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in July 2016. It has 9.2 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,414 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Grove Medical Centre
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to contact the practice using the NHS App: 82%, above the England figure of 54%. Its result closest to England is the share who said their needs were met at their last appointment: 95%, against 90% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 9 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 2 within it.
On overall experience it is 3rd of the 4 practices in Sherborne with 50 or more responses. 78% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 3 points higher than in 2025 (89%). 117 patients answered the survey (response rate 41%).
| Survey question | The Grove Medical Centre | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 92% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 78% | 63% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 79% | 65% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 82% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 91% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 87% | 77% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 80% | 67% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 98% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 97% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 98% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 95% | 92% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 97% of 768 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for The Grove Medical Centre is Good, published in July 2016. One key question is rated differently: Caring Outstanding.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Outstanding |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
13,028 patients were registered at The Grove Medical Centre in September 2026, almost the same as a year earlier.
31% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 9.2 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,414 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Dorset's 1,904. The practice also has 5.9 nurses and 10.8 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 10.8 | 11.8 |
| August 2024 | 10.9 | 12.0 |
| August 2025 | 8.2 | 9.3 |
| August 2026 | 9.2 | 12.4 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 6,525 appointments a month, or 501 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 79% were face to face (England: 63%). 26% took place on the day they were booked and 20% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
35% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The Grove Medical Centre | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 501 | 612 | 510 |
| Face to face | 79% | 63% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 26% | 43% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 20% | 10% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for osteoporosis (3.4% against 1.2%), atrial fibrillation (4.5% against 2.2%) and cancer (6.8% against 3.8%). It has a lower share for depression (9.2% against 14.3%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 15.2 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 85.0 years for women and 81.0 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 18.9% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 9.2% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.2% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.9% | 6.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 6.8% | 3.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 5.8% | 4.6% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.5% | 2.2% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.4% | 3.0% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 3.4% | 1.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 81.7% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 73.5% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 80.5% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 83.6% | 74.9% |
The Grove Medical Centre, Grove Medical Centre, Wootton Grove, Sherborne, DT9 4DL. Phone: 01935 810900. Website: www.thegrovemedcentre.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| The Apples Medical Centre | 0.7 km | 88% |
| Milborne Port Surgery | 3.4 km | 92% |
| Oaklands Surgery | 7.3 km | 49% |
| Yetminster Health Centre | 8.0 km | 96% |
| Penn Hill Surgery | 8.5 km | 74% |
- The Apples Medical Centre (88% overall experience good)
- Yetminster Health Centre (96% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The Grove Medical Centre?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 92% of patients described their overall experience of The Grove Medical Centre as good, above the England figure of 77%. 78% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Grove Medical Centre?
13,028 patients were registered in September 2026, down 0.4% on a year earlier.
What is The Grove Medical Centre's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in July 2016.
How many GPs does The Grove Medical Centre have?
9.2 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (12 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,414 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Grove Medical Centre face to face?
79% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Grove Medical Centre's phone number?
01935 810900.