Some Essex towns have more than one practice which does not meet the standard
There are 17 local GP practices that the healthcare watchdog has said need to be improved. File image(Image: PA)
Decent medical care is important to us all, but your address can make the difference between satisfactory care and care that is far from it. As resources remain stretched, sometimes finding suitable medical care can be a challenge.
In Essex and the surrounding area, there are 17 GP practices which “require improvement”. The long list of surgeries that do not meet the standard, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), can be found in a number of locations across the county.
Some towns have more than one GP practice which has not met the standard. Harlow has three surgeries which must improve, matched only by Essex-border practices in Dagenham.
Five key categories are assessed to determine whether a GP practice is up to scratch. The CQC considers whether a practice is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. Each area is then rated from Outstanding to Inadequate.
Here are the 17 GP practices in Essex, and its surrounding areas, which are ranked as Requires Improvement:The Highwood Surgery, BrentwoodAegis Medical Centre, BasildonChurch Langley Medical Centre, HarlowThe Hollies Surgery, BenfleetLister Medical Centre, HarlowAddison House- Haque Practice, HarlowThe Surgery, Stanford-le-HopeCanvey Village Surgery, Canvey IslandBillet Lane Medical Practice, HornchurchNatasha Lucy Clinics, LoughtonDr Irlam and Partners, Southend-on-SeaLaburnum Health Centre, DagenhamRigg Milner Medical Centre, TilburyGrove Surgery, RomfordFive Elms Medical Practice, DagenhamHalbutt Street Medical Practice, DagenhamBarking Medical Group Practice, Barking