THE best and worst GP surgeries in Brighton and Hove have been revealed after the NHS published their annual patient survey.

The survey asks patients of their registered practices questions on a range of criteria, including the ease of making an appointment, the helpfulness of receptionists, the confidence and trust in the GP they spoke to and whether needs were met.

Of the 34 practices that come under the Brighton and Hove CCG, 15 of them scored above the city’s average for patients describing their overall experience as good (85 per cent).

A total of 99 per cent of patients surveyed at Arch Healthcare, based on Morley Street, said their overall experience was good - the best result in the city - with 61 per cent describing the practice as very good.

Close behind and tied for second place with 97 per cent were The Avenue Surgery in South Moulsecoomb and St Luke’s Surgery on Longridge Avenue.

At the other end of the scale, only 72 per cent of patients at Trinity Medical Centre at Goldstone Villas, Hove, described their experience as good - with 15 percent calling it poor or very poor.

The data also found four practices that scored above the regional average in every category surveyed; Beaconsfield Medical Practice on Preston Road, Charter Medical Centre on Davigdor Road, Links Road Surgery in Portslade and Pavilion Surgery on Old Steine.

With demand for mental health services spiking during the pandemic, almost half of GP practices in Brighton and Hove scored above the national average for understanding the mental health needs of their patients, with Links Road Surgery scoring 99 per cent.

The pandemic has also seen health services struggle to provide support to all patients as resources have been diverted to deal with the health emergency. At one practice, School House Surgery in Hertford Road, only half of patients said they had enough support from local services or organisations to manage their long-term conditions. More than 40 per cent of Brighton and Hove practices surveyed on this question scored below the national average.

In addition, more than half of patients at 17 practices said they were not able to usually see or speak to their preferred GP when they would like to, whilst 100 per cent of those at St Luke’s Surgery on Longridge Avenue were able to do so.

Almost all practices scored over 90 per cent when patients were asked if they felt like their needs were met at their last GP appointment - with 100 per cent of surveyed patients at Pavilion Surgery agreeing.

The results are part of the GP Patient Survey, an independent survey run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England.

It is the largest survey of its kind and gives the NHS an important insight into the state of GP practices from across the country from the eyes of the patients that use them.

You can check the results of your GP practice on their website at gp-patient.co.uk.