Hoad Medical Practice, Ulverston: patient reviews and CQC rating
Hoad Medical Practice is a GP practice in Ulverston with 4,817 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 89% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Lancashire and South Cumbria: 78%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in May 2017. It has 2.5 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,922 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Hoad Medical Practice
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 75%, above the England figure of 57%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to contact the practice through its website: 45%, against 58% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 4 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 7 within it.
On overall experience it is 2nd of the 3 practices in Ulverston with 50 or more responses. 75% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 2 points lower than in 2025 (91%). 107 patients answered the survey (response rate 28%).
| Survey question | Hoad Medical Practice | Lancashire and South Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 89% | 78% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 75% | 61% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 45% | 55% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 55% | 57% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 91% | 86% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 76% | 74% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 77% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 94% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 93% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 96% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 92% | 91% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 92% of 111 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for Hoad Medical Practice is Good, published in May 2017. All 5 key questions are rated Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
4,817 patients were registered at Hoad Medical Practice in September 2026, up 1.9% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
24% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.5 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,922 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Lancashire and South Cumbria's 2,288. The practice also has 1.3 nurses and 0.6 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| August 2024 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| August 2025 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| August 2026 | 2.5 | 3.6 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 1,906 appointments a month, or 396 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 81% were face to face (England: 63%). 23% took place on the day they were booked and 9% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
48% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 6% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Hoad Medical Practice | Lancashire and South Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 396 | 471 | 510 |
| Face to face | 81% | 70% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 23% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 9% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 6% | 5% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for depression (21.0% against 14.3%), cancer (5.6% against 3.8%) and high blood pressure (19.2% against 15.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 14.6 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 83.2 years for women and 79.4 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 21.0% | 14.3% |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 19.2% | 15.2% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 8.2% | 6.6% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.7% | 7.9% |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.6% | 3.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 3.8% | 4.6% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.7% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 78.5% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 78.1% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 78.4% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 76.5% | 74.9% |
Hoad Medical Practice, Ulverston Community Health Centre, Stanley Street, Ulverston, LA12 7BT. Phone: 01229 484100. Website: www.drjohnstonandpartners.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Dr G R Murray and Partners | 0.0 km | 83% |
| Market Street Medical Practice | 7.2 km | 82% |
| The Surgery Kirkby-in-Furness | 7.5 km | 85% |
| Haverthwaite Surgery | 8.5 km | 95% |
| Cartmel Surgery | 9.8 km | 96% |
- Dr G R Murray and Partners (83% overall experience good)
- Market Street Medical Practice (82% overall experience good)
- The Surgery Kirkby-in-Furness (85% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Hoad Medical Practice?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 89% of patients described their overall experience of Hoad Medical Practice as good, above the England figure of 77%. 75% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Hoad Medical Practice?
4,817 patients were registered in September 2026, up 1.9% on a year earlier.
What is Hoad Medical Practice's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in May 2017.
How many GPs does Hoad Medical Practice have?
2.5 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (3 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,922 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Hoad Medical Practice face to face?
81% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Hoad Medical Practice's phone number?
01229 484100.