GP surgeries in Workington: ratings and patient reviews
There are 2 GP practices in Workington, with 40,139 registered patients between them (September 2026). The highest share of patients rating their overall experience as good is at Distington Surgery (87%, England 77%). Across the town there are 3,313 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 2 practices in Workington with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 66% at James Street Group Practice to 87% at Distington Surgery, with a median of 77% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 1 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Distington Surgery has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (75%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distington Surgery | 6,696 | 87% | 75% | Outstanding | 1,794 |
| James Street Group Practice | 33,443 | 66% | 32% | Good | 3,990 |
There are 3,313 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Workington, more than England's 2,171 and North East and North Cumbria's 2,088. Practices recorded 615 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 60% of them face to face. 41% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
23% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists grew by 0.8% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Workington | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 3,313 | 2,088 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 615 | 550 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 60% | 68% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 41% | 42% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 4% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 23% | 22% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Workington is peripheral arterial disease (1.0% against 0.6%), and the furthest below is osteoporosis (0.5% against 1.2%).
| Condition register | Age group | Workington (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 18.0% | 14.3% | 5,755 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.9% | 15.2% | 6,703 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 9.4% | 7.9% | 3,053 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 8.0% | 4.6% | 2,572 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.7% | 6.6% | 2,869 |
| Cancer | All ages | 4.7% | 3.8% | 1,869 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 4.5% | 3.0% | 1,763 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.9% | 2.2% | 1,149 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1,096 |
| COPD | All ages | 2.7% | 1.9% | 1,070 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.7% | 1.1% | 674 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.1% | 0.8% | 362 |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.1% | 0.8% | 445 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.1% | 1.0% | 428 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 1.0% | 0.6% | 389 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% | 308 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 281 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% | 272 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.5% | 1.2% | 92 |
How many GP practices are there in Workington?
2, with 40,139 registered patients in September 2026.
Which GP practice in Workington do patients rate highest?
Distington Surgery: 87% of patients described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, above the England figure of 77%.
How many patients are there per GP in Workington?
3,313 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
How many GP appointments in Workington are face to face?
60% of appointments at the town's practices were face to face, against 63% across England.