GP surgery in Dorset

Swanage Medical Practice

Railway Station Approach, Swanage, BH19 1HB

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good10,730 patients

Scores 26 out of 100, below average for a GP surgery in England. 80% of patients say their experience is good and 53% find it easy to get through on the phone (England: 77% and 57%). Inspectors rated it Good in 2015. It is taking on new patients.

Below average Scores higher than 26% of GP surgeries in England. 18th of 18 in Dorset Based on 109 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 24

  • Easy to get through on the phone34
  • Easy to contact online9
  • Good experience of getting in touch45
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment16

Quality of care 31

  • Patients rate the surgery as good52
  • Patients got what they needed28
  • Doctors and nurses listen13
  • Patients trust the staff31
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done8
  • Meets NHS clinical targets60
  • Children vaccinated on time58

What patients say

109 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

53%

find the phone easy

below the England average (57%)

79%

say their experience is good

above the England average (77%)

-12

change since last year

2025: 92% · 2026: 80%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone69%
Had their call answered straight away12%
Gave up or got no answer2%
Knew what would happen next straight away72%

The appointment

Were seen the same day22%
Waited more than a week51%
Were seen face to face77%
Saw a GP (rather than a nurse or other staff)56%
All survey questions, compared with England
What patients saidThis surgeryEnglandLast year
Getting in touch
Easy to get through by phone 53% 57% 79%
Easy to contact via website 36% 58% 55%
Easy to contact via NHS App 60% 54% 75%
Reception staff helpful 84% 85% 98%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 42% 31% 34%
Sees preferred clinician 42% 42% 39%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 81% 84% 87%
Next steps within 2 days 90% 93% 96%
Good experience of contacting 74% 73% 91%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 53% 57% 69%
Waiting time was about right 57% 69% 79%
Remote appointment 23% 26% 18%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 79% 87% 90%
Treated with care and concern 96% 86% 92%
Considered mental wellbeing 74% 75% 82%
Had all the information needed 88% 92% 98%
Confidence and trust 91% 93% 93%
Involved in decisions 87% 92% 97%
Needs were met 88% 90% 96%
Overall
Overall experience good 79% 77% 92%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 73% 79% 91%
Supported by local services 64% 70% 86%
Discussed managing condition 44% 43% 47%
Agreed a care plan 62% 46% 41%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 109 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 18 November 2024. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
Railway Station Approach, Swanage, BH19 1HB
Phone
01929 422231
Website
www.swanagemedical.org.uk
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Purbeck PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
J81010 · NHS profile

Access and facilities

  • Braille translation service
  • Disabled parking
  • Disabled toilet
  • Induction loop
  • Step-free access
  • Wheelchair access
  • Baby changing facility
  • Baby changing facility
  • 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 26 November 2015

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

10,730registered patients
Better off than mosthow well off the local area is
83.8years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension20.7%15.2%
Diabetes7.9%7.9%
Asthma9.0%6.6%
COPD3.3%1.9%
Coronary heart disease5.8%3.0%
Depression14.7%14.3%
Obesity9.7%13.9%
Smoking12.7%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4967%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6473%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)67%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)92%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target67%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target49%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check71%78%
Asthma: annual review45%66%

Other surgeries nearby

All surgeries in Dorset →

SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
Swanage Medical Practicethis surgery2653%80%Yes
Corfe Castle SurgeryWareham, BH20 5HH4.7 miles9999%97%Yes
The Newman Practice (Dr Newmans Surgery)Poole, BH15 2PG7.6 miles7279%91%Yes
Poole Town SurgeryPoole, BH15 2PG7.6 miles5357%83%Yes
Evergreen Oak SurgeryPoole, BH14 0HU7.9 miles6473%84%Yes
The Adam PracticePoole, BH15 4JQ8.0 miles2033%71%Yes
Shore MedicalPoole, BH14 0DJ8.2 miles3250%70%Yes
Westbourne Medical CentreBournemouth, BH4 9HJ8.2 miles3057%73%Yes
Wareham SurgeryWareham, BH20 4PG8.7 miles3838%80%Yes
The Panton PracticeBournemouth, BH1 3EG8.8 miles1249%68%Yes

Corfe Castle Surgery is 4.7 miles away, scores 99 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is Swanage Medical Practice taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), Swanage Medical Practice was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 01929 422231.

How do patients rate Swanage Medical Practice?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 80% of patients at Swanage Medical Practice said their overall experience was good. The England average is 77%. 53% found it easy to get through by phone (England 57%). Its GPScore is 26 out of 100, grade D, which puts it in the second-worst 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for Swanage Medical Practice?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated Swanage Medical Practice as Good at its last published inspection (report published 26 November 2015).

What are the opening times of Swanage Medical Practice?

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 18 November 2024. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact Swanage Medical Practice?

Call 01929 422231 or visit its website, www.swanagemedical.org.uk. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is Railway Station Approach, Swanage, BH19 1HB.

How many patients are registered at Swanage Medical Practice?

Around 10,730 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Purbeck PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Dorset 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.