Patients across Birmingham have delivered a stark verdict on the performance of their local doctor's surgeries, with several practices receiving alarmingly high 'very poor' ratings in the latest official survey.
Survey Highlights Patient Dissatisfaction
The 2025 GP Patient Survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England between January and March, gathered the views of more than 700,000 patients nationally. While the majority of patients across England described their overall experience as 'very good' (44%) or 'fairly good' (31%), the results unveiled significant pockets of deep dissatisfaction in Birmingham.
The surgeries are ranked by the proportion of patients who rated their overall experience as 'very poor'. The data provides a crucial snapshot of where services are failing to meet public expectations.
Birmingham's Lowest-Rated Practices
Finch Road Primary Care Centre tops the list for Birmingham. Out of 978 survey forms sent, a 12% response rate yielded 112 ratings on overall experience. A significant 23% of those respondents – more than one in five – said their experience was 'very poor'.
In second place is Saltley and Fernbank Medical Practice. Here, 993 forms were issued, with an 8% response rate (82 patients). Of these, 20% gave the lowest possible rating.
Alpha Medical Practice shares the concerning 20% 'very poor' rating. With 985 forms sent and a 12% response rate (119 patients), the feedback indicates serious patient concerns.
Springfield Medical Practice follows closely, where 19% of the 99 respondents from 869 forms sent rated their experience 'very poor'.
Another practice featuring prominently is Aubrey Road Medical Centre. The survey data shows 953 forms were sent to its patients, achieving a 10% response rate. Of the 99 patients who rated their overall experience, a substantial 26% declared it 'very poor'.
What the Ratings Mean for Patients
This annual survey is a critical tool for NHS England to monitor performance and identify struggling practices. A high percentage of 'very poor' ratings acts as a red flag, potentially triggering further scrutiny and support plans from local health commissioners.
The results come amid ongoing national pressure on general practice, including issues with appointment access and staffing. However, the stark variation between surgeries suggests local management and service delivery are key factors influencing patient perception in Birmingham.
Patients concerned about their GP surgery are encouraged to use the full GP Patient Survey results, available online, to compare their practice's performance against local and national averages. They can also provide feedback directly to their practice or to local patient advocacy groups.
