GP surgery in Chester

Northgate Medical Centre

Fountains Health, Delamere Street, Chester, CH1 4DS

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good8,787 patients

Scores 47 out of 100, average for a GP surgery in England. 80% of patients say their experience is good and 66% find it easy to get through on the phone (England: 77% and 57%). Inspectors rated it Good in 2016. It is taking on new patients.

Average Scores higher than 47% of GP surgeries in England. 10th of 13 in Chester Based on 99 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 52

  • Easy to get through on the phone59
  • Easy to contact online57
  • Good experience of getting in touch50
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment44

Quality of care 40

  • Patients rate the surgery as good52
  • Patients got what they needed6
  • Doctors and nurses listen64
  • Patients trust the staff78
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done20
  • Meets NHS clinical targets36
  • Children vaccinated on time42

What patients say

99 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

66%

find the phone easy

well above the England average (57%)

80%

say their experience is good

above the England average (77%)

-9

change since last year

2025: 89% · 2026: 80%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone65%
Had their call answered straight away3%
Gave up or got no answer3%
Knew what would happen next straight away64%

The appointment

Were seen the same day26%
Waited more than a week44%
Were seen face to face81%
Saw a GP (rather than a nurse or other staff)63%
All survey questions, compared with England
What patients saidThis surgeryEnglandLast year
Getting in touch
Easy to get through by phone 66% 57% 66%
Easy to contact via website 61% 58% 67%
Easy to contact via NHS App 82% 54% 71%
Reception staff helpful 92% 85% 94%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 28% 31% 32%
Sees preferred clinician 41% 42% 36%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 78% 84% 92%
Next steps within 2 days 95% 93% 95%
Good experience of contacting 76% 73% 90%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 55% 57% 75%
Waiting time was about right 69% 69% 75%
Remote appointment 19% 26% 20%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 90% 87% 95%
Treated with care and concern 92% 86% 94%
Considered mental wellbeing 82% 75% 84%
Had all the information needed 94% 92% 96%
Confidence and trust 97% 93% 95%
Involved in decisions 93% 92% 95%
Needs were met 81% 90% 96%
Overall
Overall experience good 80% 77% 89%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 76% 79% 84%
Supported by local services 66% 70% 81%
Discussed managing condition 50% 43% 62%
Agreed a care plan 43% 46% 60%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 99 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.

Tell us about this surgery

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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 20 January 2025. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
Fountains Health, Delamere Street, Chester, CH1 4DS
Phone
01244 385553
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Chester Central PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
N81080 · 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
  • Cycle 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 3 March 2016

This rating is 10 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

8,787registered patients
Poorer than mosthow well off the local area is
83.0years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension13.8%15.2%
Diabetes5.7%7.9%
Asthma6.6%6.6%
COPD2.0%1.9%
Coronary heart disease2.9%3.0%
Depression20.1%14.3%
Obesity12.9%13.9%
Smoking13.7%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4957%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6469%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)64%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)87%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target72%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target56%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check67%78%
Asthma: annual review69%66%

Other surgeries nearby

All surgeries in Chester →

SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
Northgate Medical Centrethis surgery4766%80%Yes
Fountains Medical PracticeChester, CH1 4DSunder 0.1 miles4857%85%Yes
The Elms Medical CentreChester, CH1 4DSunder 0.1 miles7667%84%Yes
Northgate Village SurgeryChester, CH1 4DSunder 0.1 miles6179%81%Yes
St Werburgh's Medical Practice HomelessChester, CH1 3EQ0.1 mile100%100%
Garden Lane Medical CentreChester, CH1 4EN0.1 mile4569%72%Yes
City Walls Medical CentreChester, CH1 2NR0.3 miles2645%68%Yes
Boughton Medical GroupChester, CH2 3DP0.7 miles8768%92%Yes
The Handbridge Medical CentreChester, CH4 7JS0.8 miles6560%83%Yes
Park Medical CentreChester, CH2 3RD1.0 miles5043%75%Yes

The Elms Medical Centre is under 0.1 miles away, scores 76 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is Northgate Medical Centre taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), Northgate Medical Centre was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 01244 385553.

How do patients rate Northgate Medical Centre?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 80% of patients at Northgate Medical Centre said their overall experience was good. The England average is 77%. 66% found it easy to get through by phone (England 57%). Its GPScore is 47 out of 100, grade C, which puts it in the middle 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for Northgate Medical Centre?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated Northgate Medical Centre as Good at its last published inspection (report published 3 March 2016).

What are the opening times of Northgate Medical 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 20 January 2025. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact Northgate Medical Centre?

Call 01244 385553. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is Fountains Health, Delamere Street, Chester, CH1 4DS.

How many patients are registered at Northgate Medical Centre?

Around 8,787 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Chester Central PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Cheshire and Merseyside 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.