Friends and Family Test

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If you have given us your mobile number, you could receive a text message from 80870 following your appointment or stay on one of our wards, asking for your feedback. All text messages sent to 80870 are free of charge.

We may also contact you for feedback if you provided a landline number. You’ll be contacted via an interactive voice message service, which will record your feedback.

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Ask a member of staff for a postcard version of the Friends and Family Test questionnaire.

QR codes are displayed in some areas - just scan the code and it will take you directly to the Friends and Family Test.

In May 2025, 1558, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 11450 (93%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 25 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 83 people (5%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:
•    HITS have been amazing and can't thank them enough. You have tried everything in your power to help my mum. Bury older people’s home intensive treatment service team
•    Literally changed my life, thank you so much for being so understanding and supportive your knowledge and deep interest in helping and understanding each individual situation and seeing the bigger picture has completely changed what I believe could have been very heavy outcomes if it wasn't for you. Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale secondary care psychological therapies 
•    He was absolutely amazing, caring understanding & listened to me. I hope he is a permanent member of staff. He is 100%, credit to the psychiatric unit & Cherrywood. I hope he stays.  Oldam Cherrywood clinic 
•    The service and care on the ward is brilliant Stockport - Arden Ward 
•    Excellent! Really helpful with information which I desperately needed. All staff were so lovely + caring with both myself & mum. Thank you so much!!  Stockport memory assessment service 
•    The support from the crisis team is very much appreciated by myself and my husband. The review of his medication, advice and provision of the equipment has made a great difference to both of us. Tameside home intervention team
•    My child was listened to not judged or nothing. Excellent Service and feel can reach out to all always - all staff were 100% good. CAMHS Crisis Team 
•    You were exceptional listener and gave me tools and approaches to use during a very difficult time. Even though I was very overwhelmed you were able to pull out the right questions and support me to make positive changes. Trust wide critical incident and trauma service 
•    Offering continued support which is of great benefit to my son. The service is excellent for my son and the family. Community eating disorder service south.

In April 2025, 1753, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1576 (90%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 35 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 142 people (8%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:
•    Support is fantastic on the unit food is great, staff are very warm and understanding and proactive. I am having a fantastic experience. I do not feel there is anything to improve. Family is very impressed. Rhodes Place
•    I like how my worker is always there whenever I meet her, and she looks after me and tells me when things change. Oldham CAMHS
•    I found my therapist to be a very good listener. I felt validated and supported. She explained the process of my pathway excellently. No improvements she was flawless in her session. Bury Talking Therapies 
•    Nothing at all to improve. She was exceptional. Very caring and considerate. An asset to the organisation. Tameside community learning disability team
•    She is very patient and makes it feel like fun. She also makes it as easy as possible for P to try to understand. Speech and language therapy at the Meadows Stockport
•    I just wanted to say I have so much help off Tand all the staff, they are marvellous. I do not know what I would do without them. T is a true star, and I love her to bits. Please give praise to all. Bury older people mental health nursing team
•    Excellent and vital service, every one of the team where wonderful, compassionate, sympathetic and where always there when I needed them. I don’t know what I would have done without them all. They made me feel safe and assured me of their availability to help. This team is essentially for anyone who is in crisis. I can’t thank them enough Home intensive treatment support team Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale

In March 2025, 1113, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1017 (91%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 26 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 70 people (7%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:
•    R points me in a certain direction and explains why I need to try to move on. Yes, I do have bad days, but he helps me to sort them out. He is a very good person, he helps me so much but also with medication, I'm sure without him I would be a lot worse than I am now. Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale older people’s community mental health team
•    The team are always very patient and pleasant and supportive. They encourage good effort to be made. Oldham community learning disability team
•    I believe I truly would not have coped without this team from day one they have cared for me listened to me and supported me. Talked me through illness and they have truly saved my life. I don't believe I could receive better care.Tameside home intervention team
•    As parents, we are really happy with all the plans that have been put into place for our son. O the nurse, has been amazing with her communication and how she works well with our son, despite his aggression towards her at time. Hope Unit Bury
•    Support is great, I get an answer to my questions both my workers help me see positives. Stockport community mental health team east
•    You listen well to me and give me a good service/coping strategies. Community eating disorder service south
•    G is a fantastic Counsellor he listened & talked things through at every session. From entering the room feeling hopeless to leaving feeling optimistic every time we had a counselling session really did help me tremendously. Bury Talking Therapies
•    G was lovely, kind and patient with mum and made her feel very comfortable, very happy that the assessment was carried out in mums' home and own surroundings. Oldham memory assessment service 
 

In February 2025, 1824, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1687 (92%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 31 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 106 people (2%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:
•    What an amazing team! I walked away from the ward after my first visit to see my husband and I felt immediately reassured that he was in very good hands. The staff on the Irwell Unit are extremely caring and empathetic to patients in their care. Nothing was ever too much trouble, they supported not only my husband, but myself also in what was a very difficult relapse in my husbands bipolar condition. We can't thank you enough. South ward Bury 
•    Exceptional service given. Being approachable, making people feel at ease and feel comfortable, great at listening and caring. Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale parent infant mental health services
•    It is the first time that I have felt validated as a parent in 17 years. Dr A was clear and informative and took the time to explain fully. Tameside CAMHS 
•    My talking therapy sessions were extremely beneficial. Steve was empathetic, understanding and made my sessions feel like a very safe space. I was able to fully offload my traumatic experience and to process it fully and felt truly listened to whilst doing so. Oldham Talking Therapies 
•    LD nurse, very polite, professional and knowledgeable, offered practical support in the way that would be helpful, and person centred. Bury community learning disability team
•    You are all caring and understanding. You take the time to talk to us as individuals. The therapy sessions are well thought out and very helpful. It's lovely to be greeted with your lovely smiling faces and it is great that you remember all our names. Oldham Orchard house 
•    S is absolutely brilliant at what she does, she has made me feel safe enough to open up to her and put my trust in her and that really doesn't come easy for me. I have learnt a lot from my sessions and am still learning more each time. I can't think of a way that the service can improve as I think that everything is spot on. Heywood, Middleton, and rochdale secondary care psychological therapies
•    Friendly staff lots of empathy and understanding. Stockport electro-convulsive therapy

In January 2025, 1976, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1740 (88%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 45 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 191 people (10%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:
•    It is very reassuring that there is always someone at the end of the phone if needed. I have never been unable to reach someone when I needed advice. Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale older people’s community mental health team
•    I loved J approach with A. She went at A's pace and achieved the impossible. A will not even let strangers into the house, however J successfully achieved bloods tests more than once, I cannot thank J enough. Stockport community learning disability team
•    I was really grateful for K’s support, validation of my situation and caring nature. I really like the fact she gave me a safe space to explore the situation I’m in and to then look at the thoughts, feelings and behaviours linked to that. I learnt lots of useful techniques that I will use for the rest of my life. I honestly didn’t think it was possible to ‘catch’ my thoughts and redirect them but I’m doing it (not all the time!) but I now know it’s possible to make myself feel better and take control of how I feel. Thank you. Oldham Talking Therapies 
•    Staff cannot do enough for my mum, always ready to help, even I feel welcome, drinks offered they spend time with me to inform me on how my mum is doing. Stockport Davenport ward 
•    The way you included my mum was great. I have had counselling in the past and they did not include my mum. I found my mum being involved helpful because it was hard for me to tell her how I felt. My mum is deaf and is sometimes excluded from things, but she was always included by you. Stockport CAMHS mental health support team
•    My experience was really good and thinking back to when I first started, I have improved drastically, and I would 100% recommend this to others as it helps you think differently, and change are behaviours in a positive way. Bury CAMHS 
 

In December 2024, 1087, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1010 (93%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 31 (3%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 46 people (4%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• S is amazing both my son and I feel listened to and informed, she has so much empathy and helped my son understand his diagnosis and let him know how brave and amazing he is. Thank you for listening. - Tameside CAMHS
• Kind, compassionate, understanding and very helpful. Always listens and helps in any way possible. Helped ease back into home setting, great team as a whole and good communication. Thank you

In November 2024, 1812, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1670 (92%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 52 (3%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 90 people (5%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• This service is truly amazing and lifesaving. I can't thank R enough for the help, guidance and support offered. I will forever be grateful for #Thrive and wish this was available when I was younger.  #Thrive
• Having someone I can talk to honestly and getting the right encouragement to feel better about myself and boost my confidence. The help I have received has been second to none, over the three-month period I have, from being very low regained the attributes that I had lost. Oldham Talking Therapies
• The staff were kind, caring and treated me with respect and dignity. Hollingworth Ward, Rochdale
• I think that M is a very good occupational therapist who always equips herself with things the individual is interested in. I was lucky to have known her. Tameside Occupational Therapy community mental health team
• Speech and language have been really helpful and provided the family with a great communication passport, DISPAT and iPad instructions. Thanks. Bury community learning disability Service.
• Listened, made me feel valued also made me laugh and I made them laugh. Bury Access Team.
• Especially good at offering support regular visits, empathy and staff are really nice. Stockport Early Intervention Team
• They have helped me a lot, to go through hard times to try to look after my mind without them coming like they did. I'm sure that something would have happened to me, so I can say thank for what you have done. Rochdale home intensive support team
• Open and honest feedback. Allowed to ask questions, however, difficult to know what to ask when coming to terms with a diagnosis from a carer's perspective. Tameside Adult Autism Assessment Team

In October 2024, 1653, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1498 (91%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 37 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 118 people (7%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• I felt like I had someone who I could actually talk to about my feelings and that I was supported in the best way I could be. # Thrive
• I have led the way for my therapy sessions, and it has been conducted with my best interests in mind. My therapist has been amazing, thank you. Stockport Talking Therapies
• Explained service and their role very well. Spoke in Urdu (really appreciate) Given me Asian contact where I could talk engage as I'm new in the area, thank you. Asian contact, shops mosque, activities, organisations. Tameside CMHT Carer Support Worker
• I have felt safer, more positive. Life can only get better. North Ward Bury
• I was seen quickly when desperate for help and now I have confidence to talk about my problems and own up to the help needed. Thank you. Oldham UECA Team
• All the people who work for this team are amazing. Tameside and Glossop Community Learning Disability Team
• Excellent staff who will do anything for you. Rochdale Beech Ward
• Helped us a lot to get the right diagnosis as well as helping and advising us through other struggles we faced in the future. Oldham Community Learning Disability Team

In August 2024, 1591, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1444 (91%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 44 (3%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 103 people (6%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• The service has been excellent and changed mine and my son’s life. I can't thank Dr C and J enough. HMR CAMHS
• Noreen so far has helped in every-way possible. I possibly would not be still around to write this review without the support and understanding received. Bury Talking Therapies
• Staff really brilliant, they were kind caring and thoughtful. Firm when they needed to be. HMR – Beech Ward
• All nursing care is excellent for dad, nothing is ever a problem. The ward sisters and lead nurses are responsive to families, you can ring at any time even outside of hours. Tameside – Hague Ward
• J has a positive energy about her, she radiates a can-do attitude. She is caring reliable and empathetic. Stockport Community LD Team
• Being able to talk, express feelings in a comfortable, supportive environment. - Oldham Talking Therapies
• I am so grateful to the HIT Team for taking me on. I was struggling to eat drink and reluctant to get dressed. I wasn't able to use my phone, lead or watch television and was anxious when trying to sleep. The team were reassuring positive and caring. They set me small goals but were not judgmental if I called to meet them. R sorted out my medication and J managed to coax me out of the house. We found the food and drink recording forms useful. They motivated me to try to eat and drink more. Many thanks to the whole team for your kindness, patience, and support. – Tameside HITS 65+
• Fantastic would not be as well of a person if not for such an excellent care from everyone. Stockport EIT
• Helped me to express my thoughts and feelings and made me feel safe and comfortable. Oldham UCEA Team

In August 2024, 1358, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1234 (91%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 39 (3%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 85 people (6%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• I can always ring up if I need help. You are very supportive and always there for me and I really appreciate it. (Tameside EIT)
• Always there to help, understanding staff I haven't a bad word to say my care has been amazing. (Tameside Adult ADHD Service)
• Reception staff are friendly and welcoming. Service is excellent. Home visits from MH Practitioner and Occupational Therapist make a huge (positive!) difference for us. Dr's clinic is well run, and Dr O is fantastic! Five stars all round for the team. (HMR CMHT Hanson Corner)
• Very friendly, supportive, always kept us in the loop, and helped us create communication cards to help best support our child. No complaints, very professional, knowledgeable, will be missed. (Oldham Community Learning Disability Service)
• Very understanding & supportive staff, there for you if you have a crisis. (Stockport OP CMHT 2)
• A was so lovely. Very personable, connected with me and made me feel human and understood. Didn’t judge, very supportive… made me laugh and this is first time in a long time. So positive and supportive (Bury Access Team)
• S was very helpful when talking about Mum’s medication very knowledgeable.
• Helpful and kind staff. Thank you for looking after my dad. (HMR Hollingworth Ward)
• I think my time with R has really helped me and he went through everything clearly and made sure I understood it and overall, I think we worked well together. (#Thrive)
• Absolutely amazing, should be very proud of how you help people. (Oldham MH Liaison Team)

In July 2024, 1685, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 1511 (90%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 35 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 139 people (8%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• Thanks for today it did help me a bit because I have been struggling lately and have been nervous about high school and made me feel better about high school. Bury CAMHS MHST
• The early intervention team was extremely focused on the best help for our son. They were extremely efficient, friendly, helpful, and very informative. I am very grateful for their tremendous assistance at this very difficult time. Bury Early Intervention Team (EIT)
• I do moan but it's the best ward I've been on, thank you. HMR Moorside Ward
• Thank you very much, mum and I have both really enjoyed it and looked forward to coming. Mum seems to engage more. Great to attend the session and get the advice and support. Oldham Memory Assessment Service
• I was treated with the upmost respect and compassion. This ward, Beech ward is an incredible place to receive the best care available for help with mental health care. These people are an absolute credit to the mental health team. HMR Beech Ward
• My counsellor was very easy to talk to and made me comfortable. Was patient and offered a balanced perspective and good advice. Oldham Talking Therapies
• I think I have been blessed to have you as my ADHD nurse. I cannot speak for what my experience at the clinic would have been like, had you not been my nurse. You are an absolutely amazing specialist in this field, you understand exactly what I experience and is never dismissive towards my symptoms. I am a very socially withdrawn individual, but I always let my walls down when I am with you. Tameside Adult ADHD Service
• J has been amazing support to me and the whole family as well as M. It has been a lengthy, difficult time with M's health and without having the support of J it would have been even more arduous. We can't thank J enough. Bury Community Learning Disability Team
• Excellent care provided for my mother at Rosewood ward. Mum has improved greatly whilst on Rosewood. All the staff are caring, considerate of my mothers needs and emotions, she is kept clean and well looked after and the ward is always spotlessly clean well done to everyone on Rosewood Ward. Stockport – Rosewood Ward
• I had my ups and downs but AT helped me through it all I can't thank her enough. I truly believed she saved my life. HMR- CAMHS

In June 2024, 911, people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 853 (94%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 19 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 39 people (4%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• Honestly, I can’t thank staff enough for everything, you really have saved my life, thank you for making me feel safe, heard, and looked after. Bury North Ward
• It was good that somebody listened to me and I could speak about how I was actually feeling. The sessions were really good. Stockport CAMHS
• You were very patient and explained things thoroughly. HMR Memory Assessment Service
• The activity was about reflecting on our recovery journey and the steps that can help us move towards recovery. I identified several things that I found helpful and the staff at Woodbank are very helpful, the groups and activities are great. Thank you for being a part of my recovery journey. Woodbank Unit Stockport
• I honestly cant thank the team enough. I was never made to feel like anything was too much trouble for them. They went above and beyond to support me through a difficult time. Bury Home Treatment Team
• Welcoming staff, punctual appointments, constructive sessions, felt I was listened to without judgement, useful weekly homework Oldham Talking Therapies
• I felt listened too, not judged, and stronger to deal with issues I had at the time Greater Manchester Resilience Hub
• You were very patient and explained things thoroughly. MR Memory Assessment Service
• Excellent service. Not only took into account the needs of the patient, but also those of the extended family. Assessed needs appropriately and timely, then monitored outcome of chosen treatment. Very supportive and willing to listen. Managed the patient calmly but firmly- Stockport Older Peoples CMHT 1
• D helped me enormously, looking after all and talking to the doctor and helping me with my parking ticket she was a great help. HMR Community Learning Disability Team

Between April 2022 and March 2023 (our financial year), 8009 people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 7375 (92%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 199 (2%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 435 people (5%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• "Someone welcomed us as we arrived. Appt on time easy clear instructions during interviews for both of us even though my husband's memory was struggling. Made to feel at ease through interviews." - Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale memory service
• "My treatment has helped me to deal with my trauma and gave me coping strategies." - Stockport talking therapies
• "Friendly and helpful staff. Felt at ease during the meeting everything was explained fully. The waiting room was welcoming not like some I've experienced, better Wi-Fi please." - Stockport child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS)
• "The level of support and empathy from your staff is brilliant. They went above and beyond to make sure I was getting the support I needed, and the aftercare was brilliant too." - Greater Manchester Resilience Hub
• "It was good to have A coming to meeting with us because she thought of questions to ask the doctors, she was very efficient and caring and knowledgeable." - Oldham community learning disability team
• "Excellent service - supported my son at home to enable him to have his vaccine - thank you." - Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale community learning disability team
• "I was listened to fully and made to feel at ease and not alone in how I am feeling. Some really good suggestions to help grounding and mindfulness until further input is available." - Oldham psychological medicine service
• Taylor ward is amazing and has really helped me. All the groups that I did were good. I love the keep fit and aerobics as it helps me to stay healthy. - Taylor Ward, Tameside
• "There's a lovely sense of trust and empathy and confidentiality that makes me feel understood and valid. I don't feel crazy or lost of hopeless." - Community eating disorders service

Between April 2021 and March 2022 (our financial year), 5203 people completed the national Friends and Family Test (FFT).

Of those people, 4795 (92%) rated their overall experience as either very good or good, 175 (3%) people rated their overall experience as either poor or very poor, and a further 233 people (5%) rated their overall experience as neither good nor poor.

Here are some of the comments people left about their care and treatment:

• "The staff have performed miracles with me. I am forever in their debt." - Davenport Ward, Stockport
• "Every appointment I have been to at the Water grove has been excellent. Staff are very friendly and explain things clearly and in a way that's easy to understand, always on time environment is clean and covid safe." - Rochdale memory assessment team
• "Orchard house is a vital support for so many mental health problems. All staff are the most caring, polite and patient you could wish for. Without this service so many people will slip through the net." – Orchard House, Oldham
• "K was lovely. Very friendly and approachable. Treated me with respect at all times and was respectful of my home. Was always available when needed always kept the appointments we had made." - Bury community learning disability team
• "Caring and supporting at a very difficult time." - Tameside home intervention team
• "The service was really valuable - it was thorough, challenging test at times, but the result was helpful." Older people's community mental health team, Bury
• "Staff have been really supportive, and I feel acknowledged as a person on the ward." Horizon Unit, Bury
• "Absolutely amazed with the response and how quick we got help and support." - #Thrive, Rochdale
• "This service has been an absolute life saver and has been really useful to both my daughter and me. Thank you so much for all of your help. We will use it again in the future. You are all so very lovely also. Thank you." - Greater Manchester children and young people's west team