THE best and worst GP surgeries in Bromsgrove, as voted by patients, have been revealed.

The annual GP Patient Survey asks residents about their opinion of practices, measuring their experiences on a range of topics including overall satisfaction, the ease of making appointments, waiting times, the quality of care given, practice opening times and out-of-hours services.

Results were published this month, with more than 2,500 residents in Bromsgrove and Redditch completing the survey – a response rate of 45 per cent.

New Road Surgery in Rubery received the highest patient satisfaction rating in Bromsgrove, with 99 per cent of patients believing the practices to be good or better.

This was followed by Barnt Green Surgery at 97 and St Johns Surgery in Bromsgrove at 95 per cent.

The lowest ranked was Hollyoaks Medical Centre in Wythall, with a satisfaction score of 84 per cent, placing it below the national average, alongside Hollywood Medical Centre at 85 per cent.

Bromsgrove scored an average satisfaction rating of 91 per cent - above the national average of 85, while Redditch fell short with an average score of 82.

Rubery’s New Road Surgery topped the board again for ease of getting through to the surgery via phone at 94 per cent, followed by Belbroughton’s Glebeland Surgery at 93.

Within Bromsgrove town, St Johns was voted highest, with 91 per cent finding it ‘easy’ to call up and speak to someone.

Hollyoaks Medical Centre, Churchfields Surgery and Hollywood Medical Centre all fell short of the national average of 68 per cent.

Receptionists at the popular New Road Surgery in Rubery were voted most ‘helpful’ in the district, followed by Barnt Green Surgery and St Johns.

In this category, Hollyoaks, Churchfields and Cornhill Surgery in Rubery fell below the national average of 87 per cent.

17 per cent of patients at Churchfields said they were unable to get an appointment last time they tried or ‘couldn’t remember’, while 13 per cent said the same for Davenal House in Bromsgrove’s town centre.

Rubery’s New Road was top of the chart for this question, followed by Glebeland, St Johns, Cornhill and Hollywood Medical Centre.

Asked how convenient their last GP appointment was, Bromsgrove patients rated Rubery’s New Road best in the district, followed by Catshill Village Surgery. All surgeries surpassed the national average.

When offered an inconvenient time, 38 per cent attended anyway, 13 per cent didn’t see anyone and one per cent resorted to visiting an A&E department.

More than a third of patients complained they have to wait too long for an appointment, suggesting a greater problem in Bromsgrove than nationwide.

Across the district, 98 per cent of participants said they had trust and confidence in their GP, with Rubery’s New Road Surgery and Bromsgrove’s New Road Surgery both receiving 100 per cent trust ratings.

Every patient asked from Glebeland, Catshill Village and St Johns surgeries said they had trust and confidence in their nurse.

79 per cent were ‘satisfied’ with their GP surgery’s opening hours.

More patients than last year across the two districts said it had taken too long to receive care or advice.

A spokesman for Bromsgrove and Redditch’s Clinical Commissioning Group said: “These results show that a vast majority of patients across Redditch and Bromsgrove rate their experience with their GP surgery as good or very good.

“We want a patient’s experience with their GP practice to be as positive as possible. It’s important that patients can access the right service at the right time for them, with the confidence that they’re getting the best help and advice available.

“We are aware that more work needs to be done in some areas and we’re continually working with practices to improve the services that are available to all residents in Redditch and Bromsgrove.”

The overall patient satisfaction ratings for south Worcestershire's GP practices were:

1. New Road Surgery, Rubery

2. Barnt Green Surgery

3. St Johns Surgery

4. The Glebeland Surgery, Rubery

= New Road Surgery, Bromsgrove

5. Churchfields Surgery

6. Cornhill Surgery, Rubery

7. Catshill Village Surgery

= Davenal House Surgery

8. Hollywood Medical Centre

9. Hollyoaks Medical Centre