A SURGERY in Stroud has come fourth in Gloucestershire in a nationwide patient satisfaction survey.

Ninety-seven per cent of respondents in the recent NHS England survey gave Stroud Valleys Family Practice in Beeches Green a rating of "good", which was above the national average of 85 per cent.

The GP patient survey covered everything from the trust patients have in their doctor, to the attitude of reception staff and how easy it is to get an appointment.

Rowcroft Medical Centre also did well, coming seventh.

Stroud Valleys Family Practice performed well with 100 per cent of patients having confidence and trust in the last GP they saw or spoke to and 100 per cent saying the last nurse they saw or spoke to was good at giving them enough time.

Practice manager Hilary French said: “We are delighted to discover that we have been rated so highly by our patients in this national survey.

“We look after 4,800 people in the Stroud area and our team of doctors, nurses and administration staff take great pride in offering quality patient care.

“Unrelenting government pressures make our work increasingly difficult, so it’s great to know that we are appreciated."

Rowcroft Medical Centre had 93 per cent of patients saying the last GP they saw or spoke to was good at treating them with care and concern while 98 per cent would recommend the surgery to someone new.

Ranked in order of the number of patients to rate their experience as "good", Stroud Valley’s next best performing surgeries are Stonehouse Health Clinic, Stroud Health Centre, Locking Hill Surgery and Frithwood Surgery.

NHS Gloucestershire sent out 21,568 questionnaires with 9,993 returned completed – a response rate of 46 per cent.

Only the High Street Medical Centre in Stonehouse fell below the 85 per cent national average.

Two surgeries, St Luke’s Medical Centre in Stroud and the High Street Medical Centre in Stonehouse, fell below Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group’s 89 per cent overall experience average.