A local GP surgery is amongst the best in Sussex when it comes to patient satisfaction, according to the findings of a national survey – but it’s not in Crowborough.

The Groombridge and Hartfield Medical group was rated third in the whole of the county with a remarkable 81 per cent of patients describing it as “very good”. A total of 96 per cent of patients said it was either “very good” or “fairly good”.

In Crowborough town centre The Beacon Surgery was rated “very good” or “fairly good” by 86 per cent of its patients, while 82 per cent said the same about Saxonbury House Surgery. At the Brook Health Centre 68 per cent of patients said it was either “very good” or “fairly good”.

Read our Free Sussex Newspaper editions online

However, both Saxonbury House and The Brook ranked below the national average for the “very good” rating.  Saxonbury’s “very good” rating was 37 per cent, while it was 39 per cent at The Brook. England’s average for “very good” was 44 per cent.

The annual GP Patient Survey shows how patients feel about the service at their GP practice, allowing them to have a say on their care, while also giving a GP practice an insight into how it can improve patient experience.

It was carried out by IPSOS on behalf NHS England between January and March. The results, now published, show 700,000 patients across England took part and across the country 75 per cent gave their surgery one of the “good” ratings. 44 per cent of these said their GP was “very good” and a further 31 per cent said it was “fairly good”.

The survey covers the whole range of services provided by GP practices, from the ease of booking an appointment, the quality of service, experience during appointments, and general health questions.

• At Groombridge and Hartfield 307 survey forms were issued and 48 per cent were completed. 96 per cent gave their surgery one of the “good” ratings. 81 per cent said the surgery was “very good”, 15 per cent “fairly good”.
• Beacon Surgery issued 267 surveys and 42 per cent were completed. 86 per cent gave their surgery one of the “good” ratings. 59 per cent rated the surgery as “very good”, a further 27 per cent “fairly good”.
• Saxonbury House issued 250 surveys and 44 per cent were completed. 82 per cent gave their surgery one of the “good” ratings. 37 per cent rated the surgery “very good”, a further 45 per cent “fairly good”.
• The Brook Health Centre issued 314 surveys and 36 per cent were completed. 68 per cent gave their surgery one of the “good” ratings. 39 per cent rated the centre “very good”, a further 29 per cent “fairly good”.