Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre, Southwold: patient reviews and CQC rating
Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre is a GP practice in Southwold with 5,337 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 96% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Norfolk and Suffolk: 80%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Outstanding overall, in a report published in February 2016. It has 3.5 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,525 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 96%, above the England figure of 57%. Its result closest to England is the share who had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional they saw: 99%, above the England figure of 93%. Of the 11 results in the table, 10 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 1 within it.
96% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 2 points higher than in 2025 (94%). 125 patients answered the survey (response rate 46%).
| Survey question | Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 96% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 96% | 61% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 80% | 62% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 62% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 99% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 97% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 93% | 74% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 97% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 97% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 99% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 99% | 92% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre is Outstanding, published in February 2016. 3 key questions are rated differently: Safe Good, Responsive Good and Effective Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Outstanding |
| Caring | Outstanding |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
5,337 patients were registered at Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre in September 2026, down 2.5% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
40% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 3.5 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,525 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Norfolk and Suffolk's 2,133. The practice also has 4.2 nurses and 4.6 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| August 2024 | 3.5 | 4.6 |
| August 2025 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| August 2026 | 3.5 | 4.6 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 4,154 appointments a month, or 778 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 88% were face to face (England: 63%). 30% took place on the day they were booked and 12% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
27% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre | Norfolk and Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 778 | 578 | 510 |
| Face to face | 88% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 30% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 12% | 8% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for atrial fibrillation (4.8% against 2.2%), cancer (7.1% against 3.8%) and stroke or TIA (3.2% against 1.9%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 18.5 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 85.1 years for women and 82.3 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 20.5% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 11.4% | 14.3% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.5% | 6.6% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.8% | 7.9% |
| Cancer | All ages | 7.1% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.8% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.8% | 2.2% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 3.2% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 81.1% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 79.1% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 76.6% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 79.5% | 74.9% |
Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre, Teal Close, Reydon, Southwold, IP18 6GY. Phone: 01502 722326. Website: www.solebayhealthcentre.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Longshore Surgeries | 10.0 km | 81% |
| Cutlers Hill Surgery | 10.8 km | 85% |
| Rosedale Surgery | 13.7 km | 83% |
| Andaman Surgery | 13.8 km | 88% |
| Beccles Medical Centre | 14.8 km | 73% |
- Beccles Medical Centre (73% overall experience good)
- Bungay Medical Practice (83% overall experience good)
- Cutlers Hill Surgery (85% overall experience good)
- Longshore Surgeries (81% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 96% of patients described their overall experience of Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre as good, above the England figure of 77%. 96% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre?
5,337 patients were registered in September 2026, down 2.5% on a year earlier.
What is Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre's CQC rating?
Outstanding overall, published in February 2016.
How many GPs does Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre have?
3.5 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (4 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,525 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre face to face?
88% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Dr Castle & Partners, Sole Bay Health Centre's phone number?
01502 722326.