Prestwich PCN: primary care network practices and patient survey
Prestwich PCN is a primary care network of 6 GP practices with 40,696 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 71% of its patients described their overall experience as good, below the England figure of 77%. Its practices have 2,073 patients per qualified GP (England: 2,171).
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 6 practices in Prestwich PCN with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 59% at Whittaker Lane Medical Centre to 90% at BARDOC - The Birches Medical Centre, with a median of 71% (England: 77%). 1 is above England and 3 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Dr Laurence Howard Sherman has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (90%, England 57%).
| Practice | Registered patients | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BARDOC - The Birches Medical Centre | 3,853 | 90% | 79% | Good | 2,186 |
| Dr Laurence Howard Sherman | 1,780 | 77% | 90% | Good | 1,804 |
| Fairfax Group Practice | 14,181 | 73% | 52% | Good | 1,930 |
| St Gabriel's Medical Centre | 8,770 | 68% | 60% | Good | 2,636 |
| Longfield Medical Practice | 4,692 | 67% | 36% | Good | 2,011 |
| Whittaker Lane Medical Centre | 7,420 | 59% | 28% | Good | 1,912 |
Results for the network as a whole, from 658 responses, against Greater Manchester and England.
| Survey question | Prestwich PCN | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 71% | 79% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 52% | 63% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 45% | 61% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 48% | 58% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 84% | 86% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 70% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 76% | 71% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 83% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 81% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 93% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 91% | 91% | 90% |
There are 2,073 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Prestwich PCN, close to England's 2,171 and Greater Manchester's 2,055. Practices recorded 324 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 68% of them face to face. 51% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%).
16% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%). Lists shrank by 1.3% over the year (England: shrank 1.1%).
| Measure | Prestwich PCN | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,073 | 2,055 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 324 | 445 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 68% | 66% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 51% | 44% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 6% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 16% | 16% | 19% |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Prestwich PCN is serious mental illness (1.2% against 1.0%), and the furthest below is palliative care (0.3% against 0.6%).
| Condition register | Age group | Prestwich PCN (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 16.4% | 14.3% | 5,131 |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 13.0% | 15.2% | 5,360 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.0% | 7.9% | 2,218 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.4% | 6.6% | 2,456 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.5% | 4.6% | 1,421 |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.3% | 3.8% | 1,367 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.5% | 3.0% | 1,038 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.8% | 2.2% | 751 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% | 637 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.4% | 1.9% | 565 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.2% | 1.0% | 489 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.9% | 1.2% | 128 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.9% | 1.1% | 381 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.7% | 0.8% | 301 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 227 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% | 212 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 235 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 181 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% | 133 |
- Bolton Central PCN (13 practices)
- Bury PCN (8 practices)
- Chorley Roads Network PCN (5 practices)
- Horizon PCN (7 practices)
- Horwich Network PCN (3 practices)
- Hwl Network PCN (6 practices)
- Westhoughton Network PCN (2 practices)
- Whitefield District & Community PCN (4 practices)
Which practices are in Prestwich PCN?
BARDOC - The Birches Medical Centre, Dr Laurence Howard Sherman, Fairfax Group Practice, Longfield Medical Practice, St Gabriel's Medical Centre and Whittaker Lane Medical Centre.
How do patients rate Prestwich PCN?
71% described their overall experience as good in the 2026 GP Patient Survey, below the England figure of 77%.
How many patients does Prestwich PCN cover?
40,696 registered patients across 6 practices in September 2026.
How many patients per GP does Prestwich PCN have?
2,073 per full-time-equivalent qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.