Six of the ten GP surgeries rated as the worst by patients in the West Midlands are all located in the same borough, Sandwell. This suggests that some medical services in this area may be falling short of expected standards.
The findings come from the national GP Patient Survey, where patients were asked to evaluate their local doctors. The data provides further evidence of a postcode lottery, with residents receiving varying levels of care depending on where they live.
Survey Results Highlight Disparities
The latest Patient Survey results are due to be published in the summer. Based on last year's results, six of the ten lowest-rated practices in the West Midlands are in Sandwell, a borough in the Black Country that includes towns such as West Bromwich, Oldbury, and Smethwick. Two of these sites are located close together in Stone Cross.
Surgeries were ranked based on the proportion of patients who rated them as 'good'. At the worst-performing sites, only around four in ten locals believed they were doing a good job.
Sandwell Surgeries on the List
The Sandwell surgeries that made the list are: Stone Cross Medical Centre; Jubilee Health Centre, Wednesbury; Hawthorns Medical Centre, Smethwick; Black Country Family Practice, Tipton; Clifton Lane Medical Centre, Stone Cross; and Great Bridge Health Centre.
The lowest-rated surgery overall in the West Midlands was Saltley and Fernbank Medical Practice in Birmingham, where only around a third of patients (36%) rated it as good. Stone Cross Medical Centre was next, with 40%.
Patient Feedback Areas
Patients are surveyed on a range of factors, including the performance of GPs specifically, as well as the overall experience of attending and contacting the practice. This covers quality of care, ease of getting through on the phone or online, and booking appointments.
It is worth noting that rankings for individual surgeries may be skewed by small sample sizes.
Top 10 Worst-Rated Surgeries
The full list of the ten lowest-rated surgeries in the West Midlands is as follows:
- Saltley and Fernbank Medical Practice - 36% of patients rated good overall
- Stone Cross Medical Centre - 40%
- Aubrey Road Medical Centre, Small Heath - 42%
- Jubilee Health Centre, Wednesbury - 42%
- Finch Road Primary Care Centre, Lozells - 45%
- Hawthorns Medical Centre, Smethwick - 45%
- Victoria Road Medical Centre, Aston - 46%
- Black Country Family Practice, Tipton - 47%
- Clifton Lane Medical Centre, Stone Cross - 47%
- Great Bridge Health Centre - 48%
