Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery, Sunderland: patient reviews and CQC rating
Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery is a GP practice in Sunderland with 6,455 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 83% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (North East and North Cumbria: 80%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in February 2019. It has 2.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,720 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 88%, 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: 95%, against 93% 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.
On overall experience it is 11th of the 26 practices in Sunderland with 50 or more responses. 88% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 7 points higher than in 2025 (76%). 91 patients answered the survey (response rate 14%).
| Survey question | Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 83% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 88% | 62% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 84% | 59% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 79% | 58% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 98% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 85% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 78% | 72% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 94% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 95% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 95% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 95% | 91% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 89% of 137 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery is Good, published in February 2019. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (March 2018).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
6,455 patients were registered at Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery in September 2026, down 6.8% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
16% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,720 patients per GP, more than the England figure of 2,171 and North East and North Cumbria's 2,088. The practice also has 2.4 nurses and 1.0 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| August 2024 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| August 2025 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| August 2026 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 2,103 appointments a month, or 326 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 87% were face to face (England: 63%). 29% took place on the day they were booked and 5% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
54% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 6% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 326 | 550 | 510 |
| Face to face | 87% | 68% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 29% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 6% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for COPD (3.9% against 1.9%) and a learning disability (1.1% against 0.6%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%), heart failure (0.4% against 1.1%) and palliative or supportive care needs (0.3% against 0.6%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 47.7 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 78.8 years for women and 73.2 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 15.3% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 9.3% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 4.8% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.0% | 4.6% |
| COPD | All ages | 3.9% | 1.9% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.1% | 3.0% |
| Cancer | All ages | 2.5% | 3.8% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.2% | 1.0% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 65.0% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 67.4% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 60.1% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 71.7% | 74.9% |
Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery, Riverview Health Centre, Borough Road, Sunderland, SR1 2HJ. Phone: 0191 567 3393.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Ashburn Medical Centre | 0.0 km | 85% |
| The New City Medical Group | 0.2 km | 81% |
| Deerness Park Medical Group | 0.6 km | 68% |
| Park Lane Practice | 0.9 km | 75% |
| Dr. Joseph, Dr. Herbert & Dr. Devlin | 0.9 km | 95% |
- Ashburn Medical Centre (85% overall experience good)
- Deerness Park Medical Group (68% overall experience good)
- Dr. Joseph, Dr. Herbert & Dr. Devlin (95% overall experience good)
- Park Lane Practice (75% overall experience good)
- Southlands Medical Group (96% overall experience good)
- The New City Medical Group (81% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 83% of patients described their overall experience of Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery as good, against 77% across England. 88% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery?
6,455 patients were registered in September 2026, down 6.8% on a year earlier.
What is Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in February 2019.
How many GPs does Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery have?
2.4 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (3 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,720 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery face to face?
87% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Dr SM Bhate and Dr H El-Shakankery's phone number?
0191 567 3393.