The Blackmore Vale Partnership, Sturminster Newton: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Blackmore Vale Partnership is a GP practice in Sturminster Newton with 26,761 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 87% 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 2018. It has 12.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,224 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Blackmore Vale Partnership
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 68%, above the England figure of 57%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to contact the practice using the NHS App: 51%, against 54% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 6 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 5 within it.
68% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 2 points lower than in 2025 (89%). 122 patients answered the survey (response rate 38%).
| Survey question | The Blackmore Vale Partnership | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 87% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 68% | 63% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 65% | 65% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 51% | 55% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 94% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 80% | 77% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 78% | 67% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 93% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 92% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 96% | 94% | 93% |
| Needs met | 97% | 92% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for The Blackmore Vale Partnership is Good, published in July 2018. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (November 2016).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
26,761 patients were registered at The Blackmore Vale Partnership in September 2026, down 0.6% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
30% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 12.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,224 patients per GP, close to the England figure of 2,171 and Dorset's 1,904. The practice also has 13.0 nurses and 19.6 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 9.2 | 10.2 |
| August 2024 | 9.3 | 11.4 |
| August 2025 | 10.9 | 14.9 |
| August 2026 | 12.0 | 14.2 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 22,097 appointments a month, or 826 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 46% were face to face (England: 63%). 49% took place on the day they were booked and 7% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
25% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The Blackmore Vale Partnership | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 826 | 612 | 510 |
| Face to face | 46% | 63% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 49% | 43% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 7% | 10% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for osteoporosis (3.1% against 1.2%), palliative or supportive care needs (1.2% against 0.6%) and heart failure (2.0% against 1.1%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 16.1 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 85.3 years for women and 80.6 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 22.2% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 12.9% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 7.9% | 4.6% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.4% | 6.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 6.3% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.6% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 4.0% | 2.2% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 3.1% | 1.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 2.0% | 1.1% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 78.7% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 77.0% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 67.9% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 76.1% | 74.9% |
The Blackmore Vale Partnership, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1QU. Phone: 01258 474500. Website: www.sturminstersurgery.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Gillingham Medical Practice | 12.2 km | 76% |
| Milton Abbas Surgery | 12.3 km | 99% |
| Whitecliff Surgery | 12.4 km | 73% |
| Milborne Port Surgery | 12.5 km | 92% |
| The Apples Medical Centre | 14.5 km | 88% |
- Gillingham Medical Practice (76% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The Blackmore Vale Partnership?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 87% of patients described their overall experience of The Blackmore Vale Partnership as good, above the England figure of 77%. 68% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Blackmore Vale Partnership?
26,761 patients were registered in September 2026, down 0.6% on a year earlier.
What is The Blackmore Vale Partnership's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in July 2018.
How many GPs does The Blackmore Vale Partnership have?
12.0 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (19 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,224 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Blackmore Vale Partnership face to face?
46% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Blackmore Vale Partnership's phone number?
01258 474500.