THE best and worst performing GP surgeries across south Essex have been unveiled after the results of a nationwide patient survey were published.

Almost 10,000 patients in south Essex rated their clinics in a number of areas including waiting times, quality of care, ease of making an appointment and their overall experience.

The results for the three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) - Southend, Basildon and Brentwood and Castle Point and Rochford - were largely positive, despite many facing increased demands.

Scores have been released by Ipsos MORI who conduct the survey each year and this year collated results between January and March.

Patients in Castle Point and Rochford were most pleased, with 83 per cent rating their GP experience as good, just one point shy of the national average.

The Leecon Way surgery, in Rochford, topped the chart with 98 per cent satisfaction.

The practice scored higher than the CCG average in every question put to patients.

In Southend, where practices scored an average of 80 per cent satisfaction, 100 per cent of patients at the New Westborough surgery, North Road, Westcliff, rated their experience as good.

Dr Marasco’s surgery, in West Road, Southend, received a perfect score from patients questioned about how helpful reception staff were.

Practice manager Sue Pagel said she was pleased with the score.

She added: “I am really pleased. We do try very hard to keep our patients happy.

“We are a strong team and we do work well together. Dr Morasco is a really good GP and he always spends as much time as he needs to with each patient.

“If patients have to wait in reception, they understand. Well done to the reception staff for the score.”

A much-loved surgery in Billericay, which had consistently ranked as one of the top surgeries in south Essex, was again named as number one in Basildon and Brentwood.

The result came as bittersweet news to the team after the sad death of Dr Ud-Din earlier this year.

Dr Ud-Din set up the Oakdin Surgery in Laindon Road in 1981, and built a lasting reputation as a trusted family doctor, earning a rating of 98 per cent in overall patient satisfaction, before it closed its doors in May.

Dr Ud-Din’s wife, Ann Ud-Din, said: “As a family we are incredibly proud of his work.

“He had a remarkable impact on many people’s lives and was so well-respected in the community.

“This is a fantastic testament to everything he achieved – he always worked so hard to do as much as possible for his patients and its wonderful that they’ve continued to recognise that after his death.”

What south Essex excelled above the national average with was the time taken to receive care when GPs were closed with all three CCGs getting positive feedback.

A total of 71 per cent of Castle Point and Rochford patients felt it took the right amount of time. This was down to 68 per cent for patients in Basildon and Brentwood and 66 per cent in Southend.

You can see a full ranking of GPs here