GP surgery in Westmorland and Furness

Ambleside Health Centre

Rydal Road, Ambleside, LA22 9BP

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good5,862 patients

Scores 79 out of 100, good for a GP surgery in England. 91% of patients say their experience is good and 85% find it easy to get through on the phone (England: 77% and 57%). Inspectors rated it Good in 2019. It is taking on new patients.

Good Scores higher than 79% of GP surgeries in England. 10th of 10 in South Lakeland Based on 116 patient survey replies, the inspection rating and NHS records.

How the score breaks down

Each line is a score out of 100. The England average is 50 and higher is better. How it works

Getting an appointment 75

  • Easy to get through on the phone89
  • Easy to contact online37
  • Good experience of getting in touch91
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment43

Quality of care 79

  • Patients rate the surgery as good88
  • Patients got what they needed83
  • Doctors and nurses listen92
  • Patients trust the staff40
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done44
  • Meets NHS clinical targets52
  • Children vaccinated on time30

What patients say

116 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

85%

find the phone easy

well above the England average (57%)

91%

say their experience is good

well above the England average (77%)

+1

change since last year

2025: 89% · 2026: 91%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone75%
Had their call answered straight away58%
Gave up or got no answer1%
Knew what would happen next straight away81%

The appointment

Were seen the same day20%
Waited more than a week47%
Were seen face to face86%
Saw a GP (rather than a nurse or other staff)67%
All survey questions, compared with England
What patients saidThis surgeryEnglandLast year
Getting in touch
Easy to get through by phone 85% 57% 87%
Easy to contact via website 53% 58% 72%
Easy to contact via NHS App 50% 54% 66%
Reception staff helpful 92% 85% 91%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 40% 31% 44%
Sees preferred clinician 72% 42% 52%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 91% 84% 93%
Next steps within 2 days 90% 93% 96%
Good experience of contacting 90% 73% 89%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 73% 57% 69%
Waiting time was about right 69% 69% 77%
Remote appointment 14% 26% 17%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 96% 87% 93%
Treated with care and concern 93% 86% 93%
Considered mental wellbeing 81% 75% 83%
Had all the information needed 96% 92% 95%
Confidence and trust 92% 93% 98%
Involved in decisions 97% 92% 99%
Needs were met 96% 90% 98%
Overall
Overall experience good 91% 77% 89%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 88% 79% 84%
Supported by local services 70% 70% 81%
Discussed managing condition 53% 43% 52%
Agreed a care plan 58% 46% 52%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 116 replies, a gap of a few points may just be chance.

What patients tell us

From people who use this surgery. Official data cannot tell you these things.

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1 of 10Last time you needed a routine appointment, how long did you wait?

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Opening times and contact

Monday8am to 6:30pm
Tuesday8am to 6:30pm
Wednesday8am to 6:30pm
Thursday8am to 6:30pm
Friday8am to 6:30pm
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Confirmed by the surgery on 17 November 2022. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
Rydal Road, Ambleside, LA22 9BP
Phone
015394 32693
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.centrallakesmedicalgroup.co.uk
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Grange and Lakes PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
A82005 · NHS profile

Branch surgery

Run by this practice from another building. Patients register with the practice, not the branch.

Hawkshead Surgery
Bragg Field, Hawkshead, Ambleside, LA22 0QW

Access and facilities

  • Disabled parking
  • Disabled toilet
  • Induction loop
  • Step-free access
  • Wheelchair access
  • Car parking
  • Disabled parking

Pins show each surgery's score. Get directions

Inspection rating

By the Care Quality Commission, the NHS regulator

Good

overall, from the inspection published 12 November 2019

This rating is 6 years old. The CQC has not published a newer inspection.

Read the inspection report

The five questions inspectors ask

Is it safe?Good
Is it effective?Good
Is it caring?Good
Is it responsive?Good
Is it well-led?Good

About the patients

NHS records for the people registered here

5,862registered patients
Better off than mosthow well off the local area is
86.5years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension18.2%15.2%
Diabetes5.1%7.9%
Asthma7.5%6.6%
COPD1.2%1.9%
Coronary heart disease3.3%3.0%
Depression14.8%14.3%
Obesity10.5%13.9%
Smoking15.0%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4964%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6476%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)67%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)88%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target81%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target56%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check83%78%
Asthma: annual review60%66%
SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
Ambleside Health Centrethis surgery7985%91%Yes
St. Mary's SurgeryWindermere, LA23 1BA4.4 miles9089%90%Yes
Windermere Health CentreWindermere, LA23 2EG4.9 miles9287%97%Yes
Wraysdale House SurgeryConiston, LA21 8ER6.4 miles9594%95%No
Glenridding Health CentrePenrith, CA11 0PD7.6 miles100100%100%Yes
Station House SurgeryKendal, LA9 6SA11.6 miles7887%88%Yes
Captain French SurgeryKendal, LA9 4JE11.7 miles8984%95%Yes
The James Cochrane PracticeKendal, LA9 7HR12.5 miles5471%76%Yes
Haverthwaite SurgeryUlverston, LA12 8AL12.9 miles9895%95%Yes
Castlehead Medical CentreKeswick, CA12 4DB13.1 miles5473%79%Yes

St. Mary's Surgery is 4.4 miles away, scores 90 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is Ambleside Health Centre taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), Ambleside Health Centre was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 015394 32693.

How do patients rate Ambleside Health Centre?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 91% of patients at Ambleside Health Centre said their overall experience was good. The England average is 77%. 85% found it easy to get through by phone (England 57%). Its GPScore is 79 out of 100, grade B, which puts it in the second-best 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for Ambleside Health Centre?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated Ambleside Health Centre as Good at its last published inspection (report published 12 November 2019).

What are the opening times of Ambleside Health Centre?

Reception is open Monday 8am to 6:30pm, Tuesday 8am to 6:30pm, Wednesday 8am to 6:30pm, Thursday 8am to 6:30pm, Friday 8am to 6:30pm, Saturday closed, Sunday closed. The surgery last confirmed these times on 17 November 2022. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact Ambleside Health Centre?

Call 015394 32693 or visit its website, www.centrallakesmedicalgroup.co.uk. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is Rydal Road, Ambleside, LA22 9BP.

Does Ambleside Health Centre have a branch surgery?

Yes. Ambleside Health Centre also runs Hawkshead Surgery (Bragg Field, Hawkshead, Ambleside, LA22 0QW). Patients register with the practice and can usually be seen at either site.

How many patients are registered at Ambleside Health Centre?

Around 5,862 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Grange and Lakes PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS area.

Where this comes from: the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, Care Quality Commission ratings, NHS records of patients, conditions, checks and vaccinations (published through OHID Fingertips), and this surgery's page on the NHS website (checked 20 September 2026). Read how the score is worked out. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.