GP surgeries in South Essex are among the worst in the country, according to a report.

The report by the Care Quality Commission has revealed that currently, no doctors’ surgeries in Thurrock, Castle Point, Rayleigh and Rochford, Basildon and Brentwood and Southend, have any “outstanding” doctors, as rated by the CQC.

The healthcare watchdog is carrying out inspections of all health settings in the country and rating them in how well led, safe, caring, responsive and effective they are.

The CQC then produces a report rating the surgeries from inadequate to outstanding.

Inadequate surgeries are then supported to improve.

Not all practices in the areas have been inspected, but so far the picture is somewhat bleak for patients in south Essex.

Thurrock is one of the worst, with 36.4 per cent of its 32 GP surgeries inadequate or requiring improvement. This puts it third worst in the country.

Castle Point, Rayleigh and Rochford has 27.3 per cent of its 22 GP surgeries rated as inadequate and Basildon and Brentwood has 19.4 per cent of its 36 surgeries rated as low.

Southend has 24.1 per cent of its 29 surgeries with the lowest rating, although Southend Clinical Commissioning Group disputes this figure and claims it should be six per cent.

In contrast, Nottingham West has 46.2 per cent of its surgeries rated as outstanding, and Ashford, in Kent, has 28.6 per cent with the top rating.

Mark Howse, who had problems getting an appointment at Ashingdon Road Surgery after suffering an asthma attack, said it was a worry the number of GP surgeries who were struggling in the county.

The builder, 51, of Southend Road, Rochford, said: “No one can tell when they are going to get ill and when you are ill, you need an appointment then, not next week. I don’t know if maybe GP surgeries in Essex are receiving less money than other counties and that is why they are not as well run as in other areas.

“It is not good that there are so many failing surgeries in the area and it is quite scary to think that south Essex is one of the worst areas.”

However, Dr Marimuthu Velmurugan, known as Dr Vel, of Southend, called on people not to blame GPs for the problems. He added: “GPs are not getting the financial support they need.

“Surgeries are closing down across the country and this is putting extra pressure on the surgeries that remain open. Staff are on the brink - up to their necks, but they are just not getting the support we need.”

Tricia D’Orsi, chief nurse at Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group ,said three practices that had been given low ratings had now improved to “good”, bringing the total of Castle Point and Rochford practices with this higher rating to 71 per cent.

She added: “We have supported our practices to develop and progress any necessary action plans following their CQC visits. Making sure patients receive safe and high-quality services is of utmost importance to us, and we will continue to support our practices to achieve this.”

Ian Stidston, accountable officer of Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We have two practices in Southend which are rated as inadequate and this equates to 6sixper cent of our practices.

“Along with NHS England, we are providing support to both practices to positively address the issues raised by their CQC inspections.”

Basildon Clinical Commissioning Group declined to comment and referred the Echo to NHS England.

Simon Evans, locality director for NHS England (East) acknowledged that the report showed a number of “inadequate” ratings and low numbers of “outstanding” ratings.

He added: “We understand that this may be concerning for patients in this area. However, the CQC inspections and reports are there to help local GPs understand where improvements should be made to services. Practices which are rated ‘inadequate’ will be required to make improvements within a set timeframe. NHS England is working with these practices and the clinical commissioning groups in the area to ensure the necessary improvements are made and that patients receive high quality primary care services.”