GP surgery in Sittingbourne

The Chestnuts Surgery

70 East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 4RU

Taking on new patientsInspection: Good9,955 patients

Scores 4 out of 100, poor for a GP surgery in England. 65% of patients say their experience is good and 27% 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.

Poor Scores higher than 4% of GP surgeries in England. 6th of 7 in Sittingbourne Based on 112 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 3

  • Easy to get through on the phone3
  • Easy to contact online19
  • Good experience of getting in touch4
  • Did not wait too long for the appointment7

Quality of care 10

  • Patients rate the surgery as good11
  • Patients got what they needed17
  • Doctors and nurses listen1
  • Patients trust the staff24
  • Inspection rating (Good)50
  • Health checks and screening done12
  • Meets NHS clinical targets56
  • Children vaccinated on time83

What patients say

112 patients answered the 2026 NHS survey about this surgery.

27%

find the phone easy

well below the England average (57%)

64%

say their experience is good

well below the England average (77%)

+8

change since last year

2025: 56% · 2026: 65%

Getting in touch

Contacted the surgery by phone53%
Had their call answered straight away2%
Gave up or got no answer2%
Knew what would happen next straight away59%

The appointment

Were seen the same day14%
Waited more than a week54%
Were seen face to face85%
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 27% 57% 23%
Easy to contact via website 43% 58% 36%
Easy to contact via NHS App 36% 54% 18%
Reception staff helpful 73% 85% 71%
Seeing the same person
Has a preferred clinician 32% 31% 26%
Sees preferred clinician 37% 42% 15%
What happened when they got in touch
Knew what would happen next 83% 84% 58%
Next steps within 2 days 91% 93% 96%
Good experience of contacting 51% 73% 39%
The appointment
Offered a choice of time or day 29% 57% 42%
Waiting time was about right 50% 69% 45%
Remote appointment 15% 26% 11%
The doctor or nurse
Good at listening 68% 87% 74%
Treated with care and concern 73% 86% 78%
Considered mental wellbeing 48% 75% 70%
Had all the information needed 90% 92% 87%
Confidence and trust 90% 93% 86%
Involved in decisions 91% 92% 85%
Needs were met 85% 90% 81%
Overall
Overall experience good 64% 77% 56%
Living with a long-term condition
Confident managing conditions 76% 79% 74%
Supported by local services 59% 70% 55%
Discussed managing condition 24% 43% 40%
Agreed a care plan 40% 46% 39%

Green means at least 2 points better than England, red at least 2 points worse. With about 112 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 2026. Bank holidays may differ.

Address
70 East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 4RU
Phone
01795 470794
Online
Book, order repeat prescriptions and see records in the NHS App
Works with
Sittingbourne PCN (a group of local surgeries that share services)
NHS code
G82035 · NHS profile

Access and facilities

  • Disabled toilet
  • Wheelchair access
  • Car 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 6 April 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

9,955registered patients
Among the pooresthow well off the local area is
82.3years life expectancy locally (England 83.0)

Common health conditions

ConditionHereEngland
Hypertension18.4%15.2%
Diabetes9.0%7.9%
Asthma5.5%6.6%
COPD2.3%1.9%
Coronary heart disease3.5%3.0%
Depression14.6%14.3%
Obesity17.7%13.9%
Smoking15.0%13.5%

Health checks done

CheckHereEngland
Cervical screening, women 25-4978%67%
Cervical screening, women 50-6480%75%
Blood pressure controlled (hypertension, under 80)52%68%
Blood pressure checked in last 5 years (45+)91%87%
Diabetes: blood pressure on target54%75%
Diabetes: blood sugar (HbA1c) on target51%57%
Diabetes: annual foot check64%78%
Asthma: annual review60%66%
SurgeryDistanceScoreEasy by phoneRated goodNew patients
The Chestnuts Surgerythis surgery427%65%Yes
Memorial Medical CentreSittingbourne, ME10 4XX0.4 miles3329%76%Yes
The Medic Care SurgerySittingbourne, ME10 4DT0.4 miles936%59%Yes
London Road Medical CentreSittingbourne, ME10 1ND0.8 miles1235%68%Yes
Green Porch Medical PartnershipSittingbourne, ME10 2HA1.2 miles137%54%Yes
The Meads Medical PracticeSittingbourne, ME10 5AA1.4 miles1332%68%Yes
Grovehurst HealthSittingbourne, ME10 2ST1.7 miles3943%78%Yes
Orchard Family PracticeGillingham, ME8 8AA6.0 miles8068%93%Yes
Thames Ave SurgeryGillingham, ME8 9BW6.3 miles9585%94%No
Maidstone RD Rainham SurgeryGillingham, ME8 0DP6.4 miles9893%95%No

Memorial Medical Centre is 0.4 miles away, scores 33 and is taking on new patients. You can usually join any surgery that covers your address.

Common questions

Is The Chestnuts Surgery taking on new patients?

Yes. When we last checked its page on the NHS website (20 September 2026), The Chestnuts Surgery was taking on new patients. You can register online through the NHS website or call the surgery on 01795 470794.

How do patients rate The Chestnuts Surgery?

In the 2026 NHS GP Patient Survey, 65% of patients at The Chestnuts Surgery said their overall experience was good. The England average is 77%. 27% found it easy to get through by phone (England 57%). Its GPScore is 4 out of 100, grade E, which puts it in the bottom 20% of GP surgeries in England.

What is the inspection rating for The Chestnuts Surgery?

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects GP surgeries in England, rated The Chestnuts Surgery as Good at its last published inspection (report published 6 April 2017).

What are the opening times of The Chestnuts 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 2026. Bank holidays may differ.

How do I contact The Chestnuts Surgery?

Call 01795 470794. You can also book and order repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The address is 70 East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 4RU.

How many patients are registered at The Chestnuts Surgery?

Around 9,955 patients are registered (January 2025). The surgery is part of Sittingbourne PCN, a group of local surgeries that share staff and services, in the Kent and Medway 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.