The number of in-person appointments given by Warrington GP surgeries

It follows the publication of the Government’s first league table which is designed to ‘name and shame’ the surgeries that are offering the least number of appointments.

The Government said the NHS Digital statistics for the month of October will help patients to make ‘more informed choices’ about the practice they choose.

Data for the percentage of appointments carried out in person reveals that out of the 26 GP practices in Warrington, the lowest rate was at Manchester Road Surgery in Padgate, where just 39.90 per cent of appointments were conducted in person.

Meanwhile, the highest number of in-person appointments were carried out at the Lakeside Surgery in Lymm where 98.30 per cent were face-to-face.

Overall, in Warrington:

• 8 out of 26 GP practices offered more than 90 per cent of appointments face to face
• 13 out of 26 GP practices offered more than 80 per cent of appointments face to face
• 24 out of 26 GP practices offered more than 50 per cent of appointments face to face

Following this data, it has recently been announced that thousands more staff are working in new roles in GPs so family doctors’ time can be freed up to see even more patients.

Since 2020, more than 2,000 clinical and non-clinical roles have been recruited to practices in the region to offer more support in dealing with patients' clinical and care needs and to support GPs in delivering true holistic care. 

This figure is expected to rise over the next financial year.  

Lakeside Surgery offered the most in-person appointments in October 2022 (Image: Google Maps)

Dr Michael Gregory, GP and regional medical director at NHS England North West, said: “Giving patients timely and convenient access to GPs and primary care is vital, especially during winter, which is why we have introduced the additional roles, giving GPs more flexibility to create teams that best meet the needs of their local population.

“NHS staff have worked incredibly hard to deliver record numbers of appointments in general practice, with data showing we are seeing more people now than we did before the pandemic.”

Here is a complete list of the percentage of in-person appointments carried out at GP surgeries across Warrington.

1. The Lakeside Surgery – 98.3 per cent
2. Causeway Medical Centre – 95.9 per cent
3. Latchford Medical Centre – 95.6 per cent
4. Birchwood Medical Centre – 93.3 per cent
5. Brookfield Surgery – 93.2 per cent

= Stretton Medical Centre – 92.8 per cent

= Holes Lane Medical Centre – 92.8 per cent

1. Dallam Lane Medical Centre – 90.5 per cent
2. Parkview Medical Centre – 88.7 per cent
3. Stockton Heath Medical Centre – 85.7 per cent
4. Fairfield Surgery – 82.3 per cent
5. Chapelford Primary Care Centre – 82 per cent
6. Westbrook Medical Centre – 80.3 per cent
7. Folly Lane Medical Centre – 77.5 per cent
8. Helsby Street Medical Centre – 76.4 per cent
9. Four Seasons Medical Centre – 75.7 per cent
10. Padgate Medical Centre – 74.3 per cent
11. Culcheth Medical Centre – 70.9 per cent
12. Guardian Street Medical Centre – 71.8 per cent

= Springfields Medical Centre – 70.2 per cent

= Fearnhead Cross Medical Centre – 70.2 per cent

1. Greenbank Surgery – 64.4 per cent
2. Penketh Health Centre – 59.9 per cent
3. The Eric Moore Partnership – 52.4 per cent
4. Cockhedge Medical Centre – 46.2 per cent
5. Manchester Road Surgery – 39.9 per cent