GP surgery in Stratton St Margaret

Merchiston Surgery

Highworth Road, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN3 4BF

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good13,538 patients

Scores 7 out of 100, poor for a GP surgery in England. 64% of patients say their experience is good and 21% find it easy to get through on the phone (England: 77% and 57%). Inspectors rated it Good in 2026. It is taking on new patients.

Poor Scores higher than 7% of GP surgeries in England. Based on 113 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 1

  • Easy to get through on the phone1
  • Easy to contact online1
  • Good experience of getting in touch2
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment10

Quality of care 20

  • Patients rate the surgery as good10
  • Patients got what they needed32
  • Doctors and nurses listen53
  • Patients trust the staff43
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done18
  • Meets NHS clinical targets47
  • Children vaccinated on time45

What patients say

113 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

21%

find the phone easy

well below the England average (57%)

64%

say their experience is good

well below the England average (77%)

+3

change since last year

2025: 61% · 2026: 64%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone71%
Had their call answered straight away2%
Gave up or got no answer5%
Knew what would happen next straight away84%

The appointment

Were seen the same day29%
Waited more than a week37%
Were seen face to face77%
Saw a GP (rather than a nurse or other staff)64%
All survey questions, compared with England
What patients saidThis surgeryEnglandLast year
Getting in touch
Easy to get through by phone 21% 57% 17%
Easy to contact via website 19% 58% 15%
Easy to contact via NHS App 21% 54% 19%
Reception staff helpful 77% 85% 73%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 34% 31% 30%
Sees preferred clinician 23% 42% 38%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 68% 84% 62%
Next steps within 2 days 94% 93% 91%
Good experience of contacting 46% 73% 48%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 33% 57% 35%
Waiting time was about right 53% 69% 56%
Remote appointment 23% 26% 19%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 89% 87% 89%
Treated with care and concern 84% 86% 88%
Considered mental wellbeing 69% 75% 77%
Had all the information needed 88% 92% 91%
Confidence and trust 93% 93% 94%
Involved in decisions 91% 92% 93%
Needs were met 88% 90% 93%
Overall
Overall experience good 64% 77% 61%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 82% 79% 91%
Supported by local services 70% 70% 68%
Discussed managing condition 49% 43% 36%
Agreed a care plan 35% 46% 60%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 113 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 16 August 2023. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
Highworth Road, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN3 4BF
Phone
01793 823307
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Hawthorn and Merchiston PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
J83001 · NHS profile

Access and facilities

  • Braille translation service
  • Disabled parking
  • Disabled toilet
  • Induction loop
  • Signing service
  • Step-free access
  • Text relay
  • Wheelchair access
  • Baby changing facility
  • Baby changing facility
  • 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 13 March 2026

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

13,538registered patients
Better off than mosthow well off the local area is
84.1years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension20.9%15.2%
Diabetes10.1%7.9%
Asthma7.4%6.6%
COPD3.4%1.9%
Coronary heart disease3.9%3.0%
Depression12.7%14.3%
Obesity12.5%13.9%
Smoking11.3%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4970%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6475%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)60%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)89%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target68%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target58%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check73%78%
Asthma: annual review62%66%
SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
Merchiston Surgerythis surgery721%64%Yes
Hawthorn Medical CentreSwindon, SN2 1UU1.5 miles330%56%Yes
Abbey Meads Medical PracticeSwindon, SN25 4YZ2.0 miles3452%75%Yes
Kingswood SurgerySwindon, SN3 2RJ2.2 miles2048%70%Yes
Whalebridge PracticeSwindon, SN1 2DQ2.2 miles1545%72%Yes
Eldene SurgerySwindon, SN3 3TQ2.3 miles3967%73%Yes
Priory Road Medical CentreSwindon, SN3 2EZ2.4 miles3464%81%Yes
North Swindon PracticeSwindon, SN25 1QQ2.5 miles2051%69%Yes
Victoria Cross SurgerySwindon, SN1 3BU2.6 miles6982%86%Yes
The Lawn Medical CentreSwindon, SN3 1JL2.8 miles7679%85%Yes

Abbey Meads Medical Practice is 2.0 miles away, scores 34 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is Merchiston Surgery taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), Merchiston Surgery was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 01793 823307.

How do patients rate Merchiston Surgery?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 64% of patients at Merchiston Surgery said their overall experience was good. The England average is 77%. 21% found it easy to get through by phone (England 57%). Its GPScore is 7 out of 100, grade E, which puts it in the bottom 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for Merchiston Surgery?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated Merchiston Surgery as Good at its last published inspection (report published 13 March 2026).

What are the opening times of Merchiston 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 16 August 2023. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact Merchiston Surgery?

Call 01793 823307. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is Highworth Road, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN3 4BF.

How many patients are registered at Merchiston Surgery?

Around 13,538 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Hawthorn and Merchiston PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire 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.