The Consulting Rooms, Watford: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Consulting Rooms is a GP practice in Watford with 6,540 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 73% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Central East: 75%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in August 2019. It has 3.7 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,777 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Consulting Rooms
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 69%, above the England figure of 57%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to contact the practice using the NHS App: 39%, against 54% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 1 is above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 10 within it.
On overall experience it is 6th of the 8 practices in Watford with 50 or more responses. 69% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 2 points lower than in 2025 (75%). 88 patients answered the survey (response rate 17%).
| Survey question | The Consulting Rooms | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 73% | 75% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 69% | 52% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 46% | 60% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 39% | 52% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 84% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 78% | 71% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 65% | 69% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 80% | 86% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 80% | 85% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 95% | 92% | 93% |
| Needs met | 93% | 89% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 100% of 11 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for The Consulting Rooms is Good, published in August 2019. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (June 2017).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
6,540 patients were registered at The Consulting Rooms in September 2026, down 2.7% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
17% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 3.7 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,777 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Central East's 2,348. The practice also has 0.5 nurses and 0.2 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| August 2024 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| August 2025 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| August 2026 | 3.7 | 4.7 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 2,547 appointments a month, or 389 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 85% were face to face (England: 63%). 62% took place on the day they were booked and 1% 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 | The Consulting Rooms | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 389 | 521 | 510 |
| Face to face | 85% | 62% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 62% | 48% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 1% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for a learning disability (0.9% against 0.6%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%), palliative or supportive care needs (0.3% against 0.6%) and chronic kidney disease (3.3% against 4.6%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 19.8 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 82.5 years for women and 79.1 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 16.1% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 14.3% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 9.2% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 5.9% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 3.3% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.2% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.2% | 1.0% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 58.5% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 68.1% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 64.6% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 69.6% | 74.9% |
94% of the practice's patients live in the WD19 postcode district. 93% live in Three Rivers, the council area the practice is in.
| Postcode district | Registered patients | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WD19 | 6,142 | 94% |
The Consulting Rooms, Oxhey Drive, South Oxhey, Watford, WD19 7RU. Phone: 020 8428 2292. Website: www.theconsultingroomssouthoxhey.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| South Oxhey Surgery | 0.0 km | 82% |
| Hatch End Medical Centre | 2.4 km | 78% |
| Manor View Practice | 2.5 km | 79% |
| Attenborough Surgery | 2.5 km | 82% |
| Elliott Hall Medical Centre | 2.7 km | 94% |
- Dr Khalid Mirza (58% overall experience good)
- Grovehill Medical Centre (86% overall experience good)
- Hatfield Road Surgery (57% overall experience good)
- South Oxhey Surgery (82% overall experience good)
- Verulam Medical Group (88% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The Consulting Rooms?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 73% of patients described their overall experience of The Consulting Rooms as good, against 77% across England. 69% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Consulting Rooms?
6,540 patients were registered in September 2026, down 2.7% on a year earlier.
What is The Consulting Rooms's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in August 2019.
How many GPs does The Consulting Rooms have?
3.7 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (5 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,777 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Consulting Rooms face to face?
85% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Consulting Rooms's phone number?
020 8428 2292.