New figures have been released, showing the best and worst GP surgeries in the area according to patient responses to the yearly survey.

The nation-wide survey asked patients about a number of performance areas including waiting times, quality of care, ease of making an appointment and overall experience.

The results would suggest patients feel surgeries across Thurrock's Clinical Commissioning Group are underperforming.

Only 77 per cent of patients in the borough rate their overall GP experience as good, falling short of the national average of 85 per cent.

The score puts Thurrock at the bottom of Essex CCGs for patients' overall satisfaction, below that of Basildon and Brentwood CCG at 80 per cent and Southend CCG which sits at 83 per cent.

Thurrock CCG fell below the national average in all major question categories put to patients, including waiting times, ease of making an appointment and how helpful receptionist staff are.

Coming out on top was the surgery of Dr Pattara and Dr Raja as 96 per cent of their patients rated their experience as good and 97 per cent would recommend it to others.

The surgery, in High Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, exceeded national average in every single category, as patients also find it easy to get through on the phone and were satisfied with the opening hours.

The worst GP in Thurrock is the Purfleet Care Centre, in Tank Hill Road, where only 54 per cent rating their experience as good.

The surgery has 5,838 patients registered and was rated as requires improvement after its last Care Quality Commission inspection in November 2016.

The survey revealed on 33 per cent of patients felt they didn't wait too long to be seen and only 40 per cent felt it is easy to get through on the phone.

Rahul Chaudhari, Head of Primary Care at NHS Thurrock CCG said:

"The patient survey results show a need for improvement in Thurrock. GP services are commissioned by NHS England in Thurrock, but Thurrock CCG's primary care team work closely with the surgeries to help them provide the best care.

"Over the last 18 months, our support has meant that 21 GP practices have now been rated Good by the CQC, a vast improvement on previous years.

"We will continue to work with our GP practices to help them provide the best possible health services to the people of Thurrock.

"With pilots including the availability of social prescribing, out of hours provision and online services, we are positive about the future."​

Here is the full list of Thurrock's GP surgeries ranked by overall satisfaction of their patients:

Dr Pattara and Dr Raja   96%

Dell Medical Centre   95%

Hassengate Medical Centre   95%

Dr Deshpande AM Practice   93%

East Tilbury + Corringham Medical Centre   87%

Milton Road Surgery   87%

Orsett Surgery   86%

Dr Devaraja VC   85%

National Average   85%

Derry Court Medical Practice   84%

Dr Yadavan N Practice   83%

Sai Medical Centre   82%

Rigg-Milner Medical Centre   82%

Dr Cheung KK Practice   81%

Kadim Prime Care Medical Centre   80%

Dr Abela T Practice   80%

Dilip Sabnils MC PMS   77%

Dr Joseph L Practice   77%

CCG Average   77%

Dr Yasin SA Practice   76%

College Health Ltd   75%

Dr Bellworthy SV Practice   75%

Tilbury Health Centre   75%

Southend Road Surgery   75%

Dr Ramachandran MK Practice   74%

Stifford Clays Medical Centre   73%

Dr Mohile rV Practice   71%

Dr Bansal A Practice   70%

Acorns   68%

Thurrock Health Centre   67%

Dr Amanda M Davies & Dr C S Jayaku   65%

St Clements Health Centre   59%

Dr Leighton   56%

Purfleet Care Centre   54%