3W Health, Leighton Buzzard: patient reviews and CQC rating
3W Health is a GP practice in Leighton Buzzard with 19,781 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 82% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Thames Valley: 76%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in November 2016. It has 9.6 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,052 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about 3W Health
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to contact the practice using the NHS App: 64%, against 54% across England. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 45%, below the England figure of 57%. Of the 11 results in the table, 1 is above England and 1 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 9 within it.
On overall experience it is 2nd of the 5 practices in Leighton Buzzard with 50 or more responses. 45% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 13 points higher than in 2025 (69%). 111 patients answered the survey (response rate 35%).
| Survey question | 3W Health | Thames Valley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 82% | 76% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 45% | 56% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 58% | 57% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 64% | 53% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 95% | 84% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 75% | 72% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 75% | 69% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 90% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 89% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 96% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 94% | 90% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 86% of 526 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for 3W Health is Good, published in November 2016. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (May 2016).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
19,781 patients were registered at 3W Health in September 2026, almost the same as a year earlier.
26% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 9.6 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,052 patients per GP, close to the England figure of 2,171 and Thames Valley's 2,121. The practice also has 2.8 nurses and 14.9 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 8.5 | 9.6 |
| August 2024 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| August 2025 | 11.9 | 14.0 |
| August 2026 | 9.6 | 11.3 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 8,540 appointments a month, or 432 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 63% were face to face (England: 63%). 31% took place on the day they were booked and 5% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
55% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | 3W Health | Thames Valley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 432 | 451 | 510 |
| Face to face | 63% | 60% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 31% | 45% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 5% | 4% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 5% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for cancer (5.5% against 3.8%), atrial fibrillation (3.1% against 2.2%) and high blood pressure (18.5% against 15.2%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.5% against 1.2%), palliative or supportive care needs (0.3% against 0.6%) and serious mental illness (0.6% against 1.0%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 12.3 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 84.9 years for women and 82.0 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 18.5% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 13.9% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.5% | 6.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.5% | 3.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.1% | 2.2% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.6% | 1.0% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 80.0% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 81.5% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 74.5% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 77.2% | 74.9% |
3W Health, The Surgery, 46 Stewkley Road, Wing, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 0NE. Phone: 01296 688949. Website: www.3whealth.co.uk/.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Ashcroft Surgery | 0.0 km | 89% |
| Leighton Road Surgery | 3.9 km | 63% |
| Dr Henderson and Partners | 4.2 km | 68% |
| Salisbury House Surgery | 4.4 km | 65% |
| Edlesborough Surgery | 9.4 km | 87% |
- Ashcroft Surgery (89% overall experience good)
- Edlesborough Surgery (87% overall experience good)
- Waddesdon Surgery (91% overall experience good)
How do patients rate 3W Health?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 82% of patients described their overall experience of 3W Health as good, against 77% across England. 45% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at 3W Health?
19,781 patients were registered in September 2026, up 0.4% on a year earlier.
What is 3W Health's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in November 2016.
How many GPs does 3W Health have?
9.6 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (15 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,052 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at 3W Health face to face?
63% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is 3W Health's phone number?
01296 688949.