A SURGERY has hit back after more than half of its patients said they are satisfied with services.

A survey at mid Essex surgeries has revealed how happy residents are with their care.

Halstead’s Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery, in Factory Lane West, has been working under strict restrictions in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, just 56 per cent of respondents to the 2020 NHS patient survey said they had a good experience there.

The highest ranked surgery was Coggeshall, with a 99 per cent satisfaction ranking.

The Freshford Practice in Finchingfield was second with 95 per cent, while Hedingham Medical Centre scored 86 per cent and the Pump House Surgery, in Earls Colne, scored 80 per cent. The national average was 82 per cent.

The district’s lowest ranked surgery was Church Lane surgery in Bocking with just 44 per cent.

A spokesman for the NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Our priority is ensuring patients receive high quality care, and one indicator of this is patient experience.

“We are therefore pleased to see nearly half the GP practices in mid Essex have improved their satisfaction scores from last year, and there have been some particularly good results for individual practices in Braintree district, Chelmsford city and Maldon district, though we appreciate the combined result is slightly below the national average.

“There is always more we can collectively do to make improvements, and we will continue to support our local practices.

“A number of surgeries have merged, giving them a good opportunity to share best practice, and as part of the response to Covid-19 there are now many more convenient and easy ways for patients to access GP-led services. It’s hoped these things will impact positively on patient experience and satisfaction for mid Essex communities.”

The Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery has 17,000 patients.

GP Daniela Kreis said: “If you analyse the individual sections of access, healthcare professionals, awareness and use of online services, choice and satisfaction with appointment offers, planning care and rating of care at last appointment, it transpires that we fail our Halstead patients on accessibility and choice of appointment and preferred health care professional, but the ones we have seen are actually very happy customers and not far off the national average.”

Halstead mayor Mick Radley is also one of the town council’s surgery ‘champions’.

He said: “It’s disappointing that only 56 per cent of those who responded to the survey felt that their overall satisfaction was good, however this survey was based on the views of only one per cent of the population so it’s difficult to understand if the result is fully representative.

“It’s encouraging to see from the survey that a high number of people consider the healthcare professionals and receptionists to be very good and provide a good service broadly in line with the national average.

“The practice has a good team of dedicated staff and I’m sure they will reflect upon this survey and consider what actions they can take to improve the service in the future.”

For more information, or to see the results yourself, visit www.gp-patient.co.uk/surveysandreports.