The Oaks Family Practice, Bolton: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Oaks Family Practice is a GP practice in Bolton with 6,870 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 70% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Greater Manchester: 79%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in December 2016. It has 4.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,657 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Oaks Family Practice
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 59%, against 57% across England. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to contact the practice through its website: 36%, below the England figure of 58%. Of the 11 results in the table, 0 are above England and 2 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 9 within it.
On overall experience it is 43rd of the 48 practices in Bolton with 50 or more responses. 59% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 18 points lower than in 2025 (88%). 97 patients answered the survey (response rate 26%).
| Survey question | The Oaks Family Practice | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 70% | 79% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 59% | 63% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 36% | 61% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 41% | 58% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 84% | 86% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 67% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 59% | 71% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 87% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 83% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 95% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 90% | 91% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 96% of 24 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for The Oaks Family Practice is Good, published in December 2016. All 5 key questions are rated Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
6,870 patients were registered at The Oaks Family Practice in September 2026, down 2.2% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
20% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 4.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,657 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Greater Manchester's 2,055. The practice also has 1.6 nurses and 1.9 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 3.3 | 7.8 |
| August 2024 | 3.7 | 7.8 |
| August 2025 | 3.7 | 8.2 |
| August 2026 | 4.1 | 8.6 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 2,863 appointments a month, or 417 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 84% were face to face (England: 63%). 36% took place on the day they were booked and 11% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
49% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 8% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The Oaks Family Practice | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 417 | 445 | 510 |
| Face to face | 84% | 66% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 36% | 44% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 11% | 5% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 8% | 6% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for dementia (1.3% against 0.8%), chronic kidney disease (7.2% against 4.6%) and depression (20.3% against 14.3%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 27.4 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 81.9 years for women and 77.9 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 20.3% | 14.3% |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.2% | 15.2% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.4% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.7% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 7.2% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.8% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.7% | 1.9% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| Dementia | All ages | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 72.7% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 75.7% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 67.1% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 72.8% | 74.9% |
The Oaks Family Practice, Crompton Health Centre, 501 Crompton Way, Bolton, BL1 8UP. Phone: 01204 463111. Website: www.theoaksfamilypractice.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Crompton View Surgery | 0.0 km | 98% |
| Dr Nasima Sidda | 1.1 km | 72% |
| Burnside Surgery | 1.1 km | 86% |
| Bolton Community Practice CIC | 1.1 km | 71% |
| Harwood Medical Centre | 1.3 km | 72% |
- Bromley Meadows Surgery (92% overall experience good)
- Crompton View Surgery (98% overall experience good)
- Edgworth Medical Practice (95% overall experience good)
- Harwood Medical Centre (72% overall experience good)
- Mandalay Medical Centre (79% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The Oaks Family Practice?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 70% of patients described their overall experience of The Oaks Family Practice as good, against 77% across England. 59% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Oaks Family Practice?
6,870 patients were registered in September 2026, down 2.2% on a year earlier.
What is The Oaks Family Practice's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in December 2016.
How many GPs does The Oaks Family Practice have?
4.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (7 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,657 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Oaks Family Practice face to face?
84% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Oaks Family Practice's phone number?
01204 463111.