GP Enter and View Report - The Woodside Medical Centre, Middleton
The Woodside Medical Centre is a GP practice in the Rochdale Borough with approximately 10,000 patients.
Purpose of Visit: The purpose of the visit was to review how patients access GP services, including appointment booking systems, accessibility of information, and the overall patient experience. There were two patients in the waiting room. It was not possible to speak with them as they chose not to engage. However, observations and staff engagement highlighted several key areas for improvement and good practice.
Quick Wins:
Here are three quick wins which could improve the service and patients’ experiences at The Woodside Medical Centre.
1. To activate a call back option on the telephone system and improve continuity of messaging on the phone system.
2. To offer training sessions to help patients use digital access tools and promote this both digitally and in person, involving the PPG where appropriate.
3. To ensure waiting room TV is on during practice hours to maximise patient communication opportunities.
Downloads
6 Month Enter & View Update
Following our Enter and View visit in July 2025, we issued several statutory recommendations focused on improving access, communication, and overall patient experience. In the months since, the practice has taken significant and proactive steps to respond to this feedback, implementing a range of extensive changes across its services and day-to-day operations.
Six months on, the practice has engaged positively with our findings and has worked to make meaningful improvements. These changes have strengthened how patients access services, improved communication between staff and patients, and enhanced the overall experience of care. It is encouraging to see the impact of these developments, with clear progress being made in addressing the issues originally identified and delivering improvements that are making a real difference for patients.
We said: To offer training sessions to help patients use digital access tools.
The Practice did: Held two training sessions and plans to hold more.
We said: Update the practice brass name plaque in the entrance to reflect the current clinical team.
The Practice did: The plaque has now been updated to reflect the current clinical team.
We said: To review the test result messaging online and on the website so it is consistent.
The Practice did: This was fully reviewed and updated to reflect current practice and to deliver a consistent message.
We said: To audit the telephone booking system to reduce queue times for appointments and improve messaging consistency.
The Practice did: Audited ongoing telephone traffic; the welcome message has been updated to enhance information regarding the NHS APP and online service, the practice plans to continue to advise patients to use online services.
We said: To include the PPG in practice community activities, e.g. Military, Veterans’ event and Breast, Cancer Awareness events
The Practice did: Held a Military Veteran event 24.07.2025, those in attendance included PPG, Man club and living Well.
Overall, these improvements demonstrate the positive impact that Healthwatch Rochdale has had in supporting service development at the practice. Through our Enter and View visit and subsequent statutory recommendations, we have helped highlight key areas for improvement based on patient experience. It is clear that the practice has taken this feedback seriously and used it to make meaningful changes that have enhanced access, strengthened communication, and improved the overall quality of care. This reflects the value of listening to patient voice and shows how constructive engagement between Healthwatch and local services can lead to real, measurable improvements for patients.