GP surgery in Leicester

The Charnwood Practice

Merlyn Vaz Health Centre, 1 Spinney Hill Road, Leicester, LE5 3GH

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good8,067 patients

Scores 44 out of 100, average for a GP surgery in England. 80% 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 2016. It is taking on new patients.

Average Scores higher than 44% of GP surgeries in England. 13th of 42 in Leicester Based on 70 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 35

  • Easy to get through on the phone39
  • Easy to contact online28
  • Good experience of getting in touch41
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment37

Quality of care 57

  • Patients rate the surgery as good55
  • Patients got what they needed37
  • Doctors and nurses listen58
  • Patients trust the staff43
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done70
  • Meets NHS clinical targets75
  • Children vaccinated on time79

What patients say

70 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

56%

find the phone easy

about the England average (57%)

80%

say their experience is good

above the England average (77%)

-3

change since last year

2025: 84% · 2026: 80%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone50%
Had their call answered straight away13%
Gave up or got no answer10%
Knew what would happen next straight away55%

The appointment

Were seen the same day45%
Waited more than a week22%
Were seen face to face50%
Saw a GP (rather than a nurse or other staff)73%
All survey questions, compared with England
What patients saidThis surgeryEnglandLast year
Getting in touch
Easy to get through by phone 56% 57% 74%
Easy to contact via website 49% 58% 56%
Easy to contact via NHS App 47% 54% 70%
Reception staff helpful 91% 85% 93%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 61% 31% 38%
Sees preferred clinician 35% 42% 28%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 88% 84% 89%
Next steps within 2 days 92% 93% 95%
Good experience of contacting 72% 73% 81%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 74% 57% 67%
Waiting time was about right 67% 69% 85%
Remote appointment 50% 26% 40%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 89% 87% 85%
Treated with care and concern 81% 86% 84%
Considered mental wellbeing 81% 75% 82%
Had all the information needed 90% 92% 96%
Confidence and trust 93% 93% 97%
Involved in decisions 92% 92% 95%
Needs were met 89% 90% 90%
Overall
Overall experience good 80% 77% 83%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 60% 79% 60%
Supported by local services 73% 70% 66%
Discussed managing condition 48% 43% 52%
Agreed a care plan 49% 46% 72%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 70 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 21 October 2025. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
Merlyn Vaz Health Centre, 1 Spinney Hill Road, Leicester, LE5 3GH
Phone
0116 294 3100
Email
[email protected]
Website
thecharnwoodpractice.co.uk
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Belgrave & Spinney Hill PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
C82667 · NHS profile

Pins show each surgery's score. Get directions

Inspection rating

By the Care Quality Commission, the NHS regulator

Good

overall, from the inspection published 9 August 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

8,067registered patients
Among the pooresthow well off the local area is
81.0years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension15.0%15.2%
Diabetes15.0%7.9%
Asthma5.3%6.6%
COPD1.1%1.9%
Coronary heart disease2.4%3.0%
Depression9.2%14.3%
Obesity14.5%13.9%
Smoking10.6%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4963%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6468%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)72%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)93%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target78%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target60%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check90%78%
Asthma: annual review80%66%

Other surgeries nearby

All surgeries in Leicester →

SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
The Charnwood Practicethis surgery4456%80%Yes
Highfields Medical CentreLeicester, LE5 3GHunder 0.1 miles1959%68%Yes
Heron GP PracticeLeicester, LE5 3GHunder 0.1 miles122%58%Yes
Spinney Hill Medical CentreLeicester, LE5 3HX0.3 miles1444%60%Yes
Community Health Centre (ZS Osama)Leicester, LE2 0GU0.5 miles2750%75%Yes
East Park Medical Centre (RP Pandya)Leicester, LE5 5FD0.6 miles2959%72%Yes
East Leicester Medical Pract(S Longworth)Leicester, LE5 4BP0.6 miles435%61%Yes
The Practice-SayeedLeicester, LE5 5AY0.7 miles1542%73%Yes
Brandon Surgery Dr R Kapur & PartnerLeicester, LE4 6AW0.7 miles5859%83%Yes
Cossington Park SurgeryLeicester, LE4 6AW0.7 miles3155%70%Yes

Brandon Surgery Dr R Kapur & Partner is 0.7 miles away, scores 58 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is The Charnwood Practice taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), The Charnwood Practice was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 0116 294 3100.

How do patients rate The Charnwood Practice?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 80% of patients at The Charnwood Practice 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 44 out of 100, grade C, which puts it in the middle 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for The Charnwood Practice?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated The Charnwood Practice as Good at its last published inspection (report published 9 August 2016).

What are the opening times of The Charnwood 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 21 October 2025. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact The Charnwood Practice?

Call 0116 294 3100 or visit its website, thecharnwoodpractice.co.uk. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is Merlyn Vaz Health Centre, 1 Spinney Hill Road, Leicester, LE5 3GH.

How many patients are registered at The Charnwood Practice?

Around 8,067 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Belgrave & Spinney Hill PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 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.