BOLTON GPs are proving to be some of the highest performing among healthcare services.

Doctors in the town have defied pressures of a falling workforce and increasing patient demand to win a high rating from inspectors.

In the biggest analysis yet of the quality and safety of general medical practice in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found that nearly 86 per cent of GPs in England have been rated as ‘good’ and four per cent rated ‘outstanding’.

In Bolton 87 per cent of practices have been rated as ‘good’ by the watchdog and six per cent as ‘outstanding’.

Stephen Liversedge, clinical director of primary care and health improvement at Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are pleased that the quality and safety of so many of our GP practices has been recognised by the CQC.

“The figures show that Bolton’s GP practices perform better than the national CQC figures and this is testament to the hard work and dedication of our GP community.”

A remaining four per cent have been found to require improvement while one surgery was rated inadequate in August.

Nationally 13 per cent were ‘requires improvement’ and four per cent were ‘inadequate’.

Dr Liversedge added: “We are always looking to improve.

“We are confident that other practices have robust actions in place to also achieve a good rating in subsequent re-inspections.”

The CQC results make it the highest performing sector which the watchdog regulates – which includes hospitals, care homes, dentists, home care agencies, ambulance services, prison care services and hospices.

Chief inspector of General Practice at the CQC, Prof Steve Field said the challenge was to maintain the high quality of care. He added: “This is the first time that we have such a detailed national view of the quality of general practice in England, made possible through CQC’s regulation. Having inspected and rated 7,365 general practices across the country, we have found that the clear majority are safe and of a high quality. The pressures on GPs are very real but we have found many practices are already delivering care in new and innovative ways to benefit their patients and the wider community.”

Bolton's 'outstanding' doctors practices:

Bolton General Practice in Marsden Road

Deane Medical Centre in Deane Road

The Olive Family Practice Ltd in Pikes Lane Centre, in Deane Road

Bolton's 'inadequate' practice:

Beehive Surgery in Crescent Road