HEALTH services across the country are regularly inspected by the care watchdog to make sure they are up to standard.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries out these inspections, assessing whether a service is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
One of four ratings is then awarded to the service, the best being 'outstanding', followed by 'good', 'requires improvement' and finally 'inadequate'.
Services across Andover and the surrounding area have seen their ratings rise and fall in recent years.
Below is a list of the best and worst GP surgeries and clinics in Andover, as well as Whitchurch and Overton, Tidworth and Ludgershall, according to their most recent CQC ratings.
All ratings correct as of September 13, 2019.
Good
Dr Stone and Partners (St Mary's Surgery)
Address: St Mary's Surgery, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1DP
Last report published: June 7, 2017
Rating: Good
Dr Stone and Partners was given a 'requires improvement' rating in November 2016 after falling short in three areas - safety, effectiveness and leadership.
However inspectors later returned and found the necessary improvements had been made in each of those areas, earning the service 'good' ratings across the board.
Adelaide Medical Centre
Address: Adelaide Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1HA
Last report published: October 10, 2016
Rating: Good
As well as being rated good in all key areas, the most recent CQC report found that patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP, with urgent appointments available the same day.
Whitchurch Surgery
Address: Bell Street, Whitchurch, RG28 7AE
Last report published: June 1, 2017
Rating: Good
Whitchurch Surgery was re-inspected in 2017 after the CQC said the safety of its service 'requires improvement' in August 2016.
The one area in which the surgery was found lacking had been rectified by the time of the second visit, earning the service a 'good' rating overall.
The Castle Practice
Address: Central Street, Ludgershall, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 9RA
Last report published: July 21, 2016
Rating: Good
Although the service was last rated in 2016, during its annual regulatory review the CQC "did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection".
It was therefore decided that no inspection was necessary, with a view to carrying one out at a later date if the watchdog sees evidence of potential changes.
Charlton Hill Surgery
Address: Charlton Hill Surgery, Charlton Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3JY
Last report published: December 15, 2017
Rating: Good
Charlton Hill Surgery scored 'good' ratings across the board for the second successive inspection when the CQC visited in December 2017.
Shepherds Spring Medical Centre
Address: Shepherds Spring Medical Centre, Cricketers Way, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 5DE
Last report published: April 9, 2015
Rating: Good
The CQC report noted that a practice satisfaction survey showed that 92 percent of patients said they were "very satisfied" with the care they received.
Andover Health Centre Medical Practice
Address: Charlton Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3LD
Last report published: April 11, 2019
Rating: Good
Despite receiving a 'requires improvement' rating for the safety of its service, Andover Health Centre Medical Practice was given a 'good' rating overall.
The practice is set to move into a brand-new, purpose-built wing within Andover War Memorial Hospital after the current surgery was deemed not "fit for purpose".
Requires improvement
Andover War Memorial Hospital
Address: Charlton Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3LB
Last report published: July 1, 2019
Rating: Requires improvement
Andover War Memorial Hospital was given a 'requires improvement' rating after the Trust that runs the facility was issued with a "warning notice" in 2018.
The subsequent report found that the hospital "had addressed all the concerns raised at the inspection in June 2018" and staff were later praised by the CQC for the improvements they had made.
However, as the second visit was a "focused inspection" the CQC could not re-rate the core service as a whole, hence the overall rating remains 'requires improvement'.
The performance of the service will continue to be monitored before another inspection at a later date.
Watership Down Health
Address: Station Road, Overton, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG25 3DU
Last report published: April 9, 2019
Rating: Requires improvement
The Overton-based practice, formed in October last year following a merger of Kingsclere Medical Practice and the Oakley and Overton Partnership, was found to be sub-standard in three areas - safety, effectiveness and leadership.
However, shortly after the CQC report was published, GP partner Dr Christian Chilcott said that the issues highlighted by the CQC had "been addressed".
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