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.

Andover Advertiser:

 

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.

Andover Advertiser:

 

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.

Andover Advertiser:

 

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.

Andover Advertiser:

 

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 Advertiser:

 

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".

Andover Advertiser:

 

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.

Andover Advertiser:

 

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".