GP surgery in West Suffolk

Forest Surgery

Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0BU

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good7,526 patients

Scores 63 out of 100, good for a GP surgery in England. 86% of patients say their experience is good and 56% find it easy to get through on the phone (England: 77% and 57%). Inspectors rated it Good in 2017. It is taking on new patients.

Good Scores higher than 63% of GP surgeries in England. 6th of 8 in West Suffolk Based on 123 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 55

  • Easy to get through on the phone39
  • Easy to contact online47
  • Good experience of getting in touch36
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment88

Quality of care 72

  • Patients rate the surgery as good74
  • Patients got what they needed71
  • Doctors and nurses listen74
  • Patients trust the staff54
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done50
  • Meets NHS clinical targets52
  • Children vaccinated on time56

What patients say

123 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

56%

find the phone easy

about the England average (57%)

86%

say their experience is good

well above the England average (77%)

+5

change since last year

2025: 81% · 2026: 86%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone28%
Had their call answered straight away27%
Gave up or got no answer0%
Knew what would happen next straight away42%

The appointment

Were seen the same day53%
Waited more than a week10%
Were seen face to face77%
Saw a GP (rather than a nurse or other staff)65%
All survey questions, compared with England
What patients saidThis surgeryEnglandLast year
Getting in touch
Easy to get through by phone 56% 57% 57%
Easy to contact via website 57% 58% 64%
Easy to contact via NHS App 54% 54% 60%
Reception staff helpful 93% 85% 84%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 41% 31% 29%
Sees preferred clinician 34% 42% 23%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 84% 84% 80%
Next steps within 2 days 100% 93% 97%
Good experience of contacting 71% 73% 70%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 64% 57% 60%
Waiting time was about right 86% 69% 80%
Remote appointment 24% 26% 33%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 92% 87% 88%
Treated with care and concern 89% 86% 88%
Considered mental wellbeing 73% 75% 74%
Had all the information needed 91% 92% 83%
Confidence and trust 94% 93% 90%
Involved in decisions 93% 92% 91%
Needs were met 94% 90% 91%
Overall
Overall experience good 86% 77% 81%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 74% 79% 83%
Supported by local services 60% 70% 80%
Discussed managing condition 47% 43% 36%
Agreed a care plan 49% 46% 60%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 123 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 15 September 2023. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0BU
Phone
01842 810206
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.forestsurgery.org.uk
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Forest Heath PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
D83062 · NHS profile

Access and facilities

  • Accessible toilets
  • Baby-changing facilities
  • Bus stop nearby
  • Children’s play area
  • Disability awareness and equality training for staff
  • Documents available in large print
  • Enhanced lighting
  • Free NHS WiFi
  • Free public WiFi
  • Hearing loop or induction loop: helps to improve sound for hearing aid users
  • Off-site car parking nearby
  • Step-free access at entrances and exits
  • Step-free access throughout
  • Tactile flooring: ridged or raised surface, to warn of hazards

Pins show each surgery's score. Get directions

Inspection rating

By the Care Quality Commission, the NHS regulator

Good

overall, from the inspection published 2 May 2017

This rating is 9 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

7,526registered patients
Among the pooresthow well off the local area is
83.1years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension21.9%15.2%
Diabetes11.8%7.9%
Asthma8.2%6.6%
COPD4.6%1.9%
Coronary heart disease5.1%3.0%
Depression16.8%14.3%
Obesity18.6%13.9%
Smoking18.5%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4972%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6471%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)66%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)90%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target76%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target65%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check84%78%
Asthma: annual review66%66%

Other surgeries nearby

All surgeries in West Suffolk →

SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
Forest Surgerythis surgery6356%86%Yes
Brandon Medical PracticeBrandon, IP27 0AQ0.2 miles7872%85%Yes
Feltwell SurgeryThetford, IP26 4AY4.8 miles7772%89%Yes
Lakenheath SurgeryBrandon, IP27 9EP4.8 miles6354%77%Yes
School Lane PMS PracticeThetford, IP24 2AG5.8 miles3354%80%Yes
School Lane SurgeryThetford, IP24 2AG5.8 miles2547%72%Yes
Grove SurgeryThetford, IP24 2HY5.8 miles3148%66%Yes
Market Cross SurgeryBury St. Edmunds, IP28 7EG8.6 miles4437%81%Yes
Boughton SurgeryKing's Lynn, PE33 9AG11.0 miles6279%79%Yes
The Reynard SurgeryBury St. Edmunds, IP28 8JZ11.3 miles7878%81%Yes

Brandon Medical Practice is 0.2 miles away, scores 78 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is Forest Surgery taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), Forest Surgery was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 01842 810206.

How do patients rate Forest Surgery?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 86% of patients at Forest Surgery said their overall experience was good. The England average is 77%. 56% found it easy to get through by phone (England 57%). Its GPScore is 63 out of 100, grade B, which puts it in the second-best 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for Forest Surgery?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated Forest Surgery as Good at its last published inspection (report published 2 May 2017).

What are the opening times of Forest Surgery?

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 15 September 2023. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact Forest Surgery?

Call 01842 810206 or visit its website, www.forestsurgery.org.uk. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0BU.

How many patients are registered at Forest Surgery?

Around 7,526 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Forest Heath PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Norfolk and Suffolk 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.