The most and least subscribed GPs practices in Oldham have been revealed, with the most subscribed practice having almost double the amount of patients as second place.
Figures from the British Medical Association and NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) show more than 262,000 patients in the borough were registered across 39 practices with over 140 GPs.
The Chowdury Practice, on New Radcliffe Street, Oldham, is the most subscribed practice, with 7,474 patients per full-time GP.
In second place is Sunvalley Medical Practice on Glodwick Road with 4,336 patients and in third is Alexandra Group Medical Practice with 3,577.
This means The Chowdhury Practice has more than double the number of patients as Alexandra Group Medical Practice.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Oldham practices with the lowest number of patients per GP are St Mary's Medical Centre with 433 patients per full-time GP, Medlock Medical Practice with 803 and Hill Top Surgery with 893.
According to the GP Patient Survey 2021, The Chowdhury Practice's high subscription number is reflected by the fact only 36 per cent of respondents found it easy to get through to the practice by phone.
However, 84 per cent of patients did say they had enough support from the service to manage long-term conditions.
Similarly for Alexandra Group, the survey revealed only 17 per cent of respondents got to speak to their GP when they would like to.
NHS Oldham CCG said that since 2017, the number of patients had risen by more than 16,300 while the number of GPs had broadly stayed the same, however, appointment bookings have reached a record high in recent months.
The CCG explained that in recent years, there has been a national shift towards ensuring patients see the right GP to meet their needs the first time.
It also said it would "continue to work with practices to address the issues".
It concluded by saying: "The CCG will continue to invest significant money and resources in 2022/23 into improving the rates of GP retention and recruitment in the short and long-term."
The Chowdhury Practice, Sunvalley Medical Practice and Alexandra Group Medical Practice were all contacted for a response.
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