Dr Venkatachalum Raj, Salford: patient reviews and CQC rating
Dr Venkatachalum Raj is a GP practice in Salford with 6,568 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 88% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Greater Manchester: 79%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in December 2022. It has 3.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,087 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Dr Venkatachalum Raj
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 82%, above the England figure of 57%. Its result closest to England is the share who said their needs were met at their last appointment: 92%, against 90% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 10 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 1 within it.
On overall experience it is 1st of the 14 practices in Salford with 50 or more responses. 82% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 1 point higher than in 2025 (87%). 111 patients answered the survey (response rate 27%).
| Survey question | Dr Venkatachalum Raj | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 88% | 79% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 82% | 63% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 76% | 61% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 69% | 58% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 95% | 86% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 91% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 79% | 71% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 95% | 88% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 95% | 87% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 98% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 92% | 91% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 90% of 40 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for Dr Venkatachalum Raj is Good, published in December 2022. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (March 2016).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
6,568 patients were registered at Dr Venkatachalum Raj in September 2026, up 2.3% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
17% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 3.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,087 patients per GP, close to the England figure of 2,171 and Greater Manchester's 2,055. The practice also has 1.4 nurses and 0.9 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 1.6 | 3.3 |
| August 2024 | 2.1 | 4.6 |
| August 2025 | 2.1 | 5.7 |
| August 2026 | 3.1 | 9.5 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 3,479 appointments a month, or 530 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 62% were face to face (England: 63%). 37% took place on the day they were booked and 8% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
60% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Dr Venkatachalum Raj | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 530 | 445 | 510 |
| Face to face | 62% | 66% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 37% | 44% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 8% | 5% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 6% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for COPD (2.8% against 1.9%) and depression (17.5% against 14.3%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%) and heart failure (0.6% against 1.1%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 22.5 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 81.4 years for women and 77.1 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 17.5% | 14.3% |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 14.1% | 15.2% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.4% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 5.8% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 4.0% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.8% | 1.9% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.3% | 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 | 81.3% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 67.9% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 75.5% | 74.9% |
Dr Venkatachalum Raj, 37 Orient Road, Salford, M6 8LE. Phone: 0161 789 3029. Website: www.orientroadmedicalpractice.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| The Heights General Practice | 1.3 km | 76% |
| St Andrews Medical Practice 2 | 1.4 km | 92% |
| Dr Joann Amin | 1.5 km | 78% |
| The Lakes Medical Practice | 1.8 km | 88% |
| Sorrel Bank Medical Practice | 2.0 km | 83% |
- Clarendon Surgery (80% overall experience good)
- Cornerstone Medical Practice (87% overall experience good)
- Dr Joann Amin (78% overall experience good)
- Langworthy Medical Practice (79% overall experience good)
- Ordsall Health Surgery (82% overall experience good)
- Pendleton Medical Centre (73% overall experience good)
- Salford Medical Centre 1 (79% overall experience good)
- Sorrel Bank Medical Practice (83% overall experience good)
- The Heights General Practice (76% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Dr Venkatachalum Raj?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 88% of patients described their overall experience of Dr Venkatachalum Raj as good, above the England figure of 77%. 82% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Dr Venkatachalum Raj?
6,568 patients were registered in September 2026, up 2.3% on a year earlier.
What is Dr Venkatachalum Raj's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in December 2022.
How many GPs does Dr Venkatachalum Raj have?
3.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (6 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,087 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Dr Venkatachalum Raj face to face?
62% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Dr Venkatachalum Raj's phone number?
0161 789 3029.