THE best and worst GP surgeries in Darlington so far this year have been revealed - with the results based on how patients felt using them.

As it does every year, the NHS has been asking patients for their views of their registered practices and has published the results for 2021.

This survey includes a range of criteria, including ease of making an appointment, their practice's website, the helpfulness of receptionists, and whether needs were met.

This week, The Northern Echo has been publishing the results of those surveys across the North East and North Yorkshire by each Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area.

Read more: Some of the best and worst surgeries in County Durham

In Darlington, which comes under the Tees Valley CCG, there are eleven primary care member practices where patients were surveyed earlier this year.

Out of those eleven, some have achieved among the highest scores in the whole region - while some have fallen significantly below the average for the town.

Read more: Some of the best and worst GP surgeries on Teesside

In Darlington, that average - the overall patient score of 'good' - currently stands at 88 percent. The national average is 83 percent.

The results are part of the GP Patient Survey, an independent survey run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England.

Read more: The best rated and worst rated doctors surgeries in North Yorkshire

It is the largest survey of its kind as is used by the NHS as a key source of insight into how GP practices are performing from a patient point of view.

The best (and worst) scoring in Darlington

A total of 98 percent of patients at Orchard Court Surgery, based on Orchard Road, said their overall experience was good - taking it to number one.

Read more: Darlington GP practice respond after being named 'BEST' in area by patients

75 percent of patients at Orchard Court Surgery said their experience was very good, with another 23 percent saying it was fairly good.

In second place was St George's Medical Practice, based on Yarm Road, with 97 percent of patients saying their overall experience was good.

On the other end of the scale, the lowest-performing practice saw just 73 percent of patients say their overall experience was good.

The Moorlands Surgery on Willow Road, saw 41 percent say it was very good, and 32 percent said it was fairly good, with 15 percent saying it was neither good nor poor.

Meanwhile, Parkgate Surgery was named second-lowest after Moorlands Surgery with an overall score of 81 percent.

This was made up with 47 percent saying it was very good, and 34 percent said it was fairly good, and 14percent saying it was neither good nor poor.

This is how your Darlington practice compares here

Orchard Court Surgery - 98 percent

St George's Medical Practice - 97 percent

Rockliffe Court Surgery - 96 percent

Carmel Medical Practice - 92 percent

Blacketts Medical Practice - 90 percent

Denmark Street Surgery - 87 percent

Whinfield Medical Practice - 85 percent

Neasham Road Surgery - 84 percent

Clifton Court Medical Practice - 83 percent

Parkgate Surgery - 81 percent

Moorlands Surgery - 73 percent

Lucy Smith, managing partner at Moorlands Surgery, said: "Moorlands like all practices have been working during incredibly difficult times however, we do welcome patient feedback and continue to strive to improve our services. We will be listening and engaging with our patients."

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