Happy patients, hard to reach

The access gap in Lancashire and South Cumbria 2026

How many GP practices in Lancashire and South Cumbria have patients whose answers in the 2026 GP Patient Survey are clearly above the England average, but where access, appointments within two weeks and calls answered, is below England’s figure. We count them per area. We do not name them.

8 of the 15 areas have at least one, and 7 have none. Across the areas of Lancashire and South Cumbria, the share of practices in the gap runs from 0.0% to 37.5%.

Updated with GP Patient Survey (2026 survey), Appointments in General Practice (August 2026), Cloud Based Telephony Data in General Practice (August 2026)

What the gap means, and what it does not

The gap shows a gap in access, not that a practice is poor: the patients who get through are often very satisfied. It says nothing about the medical quality of care beyond what the survey and the appointment and phone data show, and it is no official status. NHS England’s appointment and phone data are official statistics in development, and practices record differently.

How the Practice Grade and its parts are worked out

The gap in Lancashire and South Cumbria: 19 of 193 practices (9.8%)

Counted among the practices with both parts: patients’ answers with a label, and an access figure in their grade. England’s access figure is 78.2. Areas A to Z.

Area	Practices with both parts	Happy patients, access below England	Share
Blackburn with Darwen	22	1	4.5%
Blackpool	16	1	6.3%
Burnley	11	0	0.0%
Chorley	15	2	13.3%
Fylde	7	0	0.0%
Hyndburn	11	0	0.0%
Lancaster	4	0	0.0%
Pendle	11	1	9.1%
Preston	14	0	0.0%
Ribble Valley	6	1	16.7%
Rossendale	9	0	0.0%
South Ribble	15	0	0.0%
West Lancashire	15	1	6.7%
Westmorland and Furness	24	9	37.5%
Wyre	11	2	18.2%

The access gap in Lancashire and South Cumbria 2026

The gap in Lancashire and South Cumbria: 19 of 193 practices (9.8%)

See also