Calling your GP surgery to book an appointment can be a frustrating experience - but where's the worst practice for patients to ring up in Oldham?

NHS England's Patient Survey 2024 invites patients across the country to have their say on their local GP practice.

The questionnaire covered everything from how quickly they can book an appointment, the helpfulness of receptionists, the quality of care they received and if they felt listened to.

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Across the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, 18,472 surveys were sent out to Oldham patients, of which 3,825 were returned and completed between January and March this year.

Oldhamers were also asked if they considered their practice to be 'good' or 'poor', and the overall results rank GP surgeries against one another from the best to the worst.

Now, we turn to see where patients are most likely - and least likely - to get through to their GP practice on the phone as they answered their experience was either 'very easy', 'fairly easy', 'not very easy' and 'not at all easy' to get through to their GP on the phone.

The worst Oldham surgeries at answering the phone

1. Royton and Crompton Family Practice 

Coming in at the worst place to call, Royton and Crompton Family Practice has again scored poorly, with just 16 per cent of patients surveyed considered it 'easy' to get through.

The surgery, which sits within the Royton Health and Wellbeing Centre on Park Street, was also rated the worst at answering the phone in the GP Patient Survey last year, scoring just 13 per cent.

2. Werneth Medical Practice

Not far behind is Werneth Medical Practice where 20 per cent said it was 'easy' to call up. 

Patients also said the Featherstall Road South surgery has the most unhelpful receptionists - and rated it as the borough's 'worst' overall.

The Featherstall Road South surgery is also this year's "worst" GP surgery in the borough overall.

3. Saddleworth Medical Practice

In third place is Saddleworth Medical Practice where 23 per cent of patients in the questionnaire said they found it 'easy' to get through on the phone.

It's a surprising result for the surgery as it has scored neither in the worst nor best categories for any other questions.

The best at getting through on the phone

1. Moorside Medical Practice

At the other end of the spectrum, the surgery ranked the best when it came to getting through on the phone was Moorside Medical Practice with an 'easy' rating of 83 per cent.

It scored similarly in last year's GP Patient Survey, but has knocked Littletown Family Medical Practice off the top spot when it comes to answering calls.

The Ripponden Road surgery was also crowned the second-best GP practice in Oldham overall for 2024 and has the best reception staff.

2. Hopwood House Medical Practice

The GP surgery over on Lees Road has also been rated as one of the best to get through to on the phone, with 82 per cent of patients who answered the questionnaire describing the process as 'easy'.

This is another surprising result as Hopwood House scored average across the board in all other categories.

3. Littletown Family Medical Practice 

Last year, Littletown Family Medical Practice on Manchester Road had the highest score when it came to getting through on the phone, though this year has gone down from an easy rating of 84 per cent to 74 per cent.

Still, it remains one of the best Oldham GP surgeries in the borough overall.

Take a look at the table below to see where your surgery ranks at answering the phone.

Have you faced an issue with your GP or got another health story to share? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk