The NHS is facing a challenging end to winter, with norovirus cases at their highest levels so far.
GP surgeries are also feeling the pressure. Often described as the “front door” of the NHS, they are the first point of contact for patients seeking medical care, treatment, prescriptions, or specialist referrals.
Patients across the North East have shared how they feel their GP surgery is performing in the latest GP Patient Survey, produced by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England.
More than 700,000 patients in England completed the 2025 survey, which was carried out between January and March last year, and gathers information on how patients feel about their local GP in the North East and beyond.
Across the country, the majority of patients described their overall experience of their GP practice as ‘very good’ (44%) or ‘fairly good’ (31%).
Here we reveal the GP practices in the North East which were voted the best by you. Surgeries are ranked by the proportion of patients who said their overall experience was ‘very good’.
5. Gainford Surgery - Gainford, Darlington
There were 245 survey forms sent out to patients at Gainford Surgery - Gainford, Darlington. The response rate was 45%, with 109 patients rating their overall experience. Of these, 86% said it was very good and 13% said it was fairly good. | Google Maps
6. Rickleton Medical Centre - Washington
There were 324 survey forms sent out to patients at Rickleton Medical Centre in Washington. The response rate was 37%, with 120 patients rating their overall experience. Of these, 86% said it was very good and 10% said it was fairly good. | Google Maps
7. Annfield Plain Surgery - Stanley
There were 319 survey forms sent out to patients at Annfield Plain Surgery in Stanley. The response rate was 35%, with 111 patients rating their overall experience. Of these, 83% said it was very good and 16% said it was fairly good. | Google Maps
8. Brotton Surgery - Brotton, Saltburn-by-the-Sea
There were 365 survey forms sent out to patients at Brotton Surgery in Brotton, Saltburn-by-the-Sea. The response rate was 31%, with 113 patients rating their overall experience. Of these, 81% said it was very good and 9% said it was fairly good. | Google Maps