NEARLY 40 per cent of Thurrock's GP services are rated as inadequate or require further improvement.
It comes as part of analysis by the Health Service Journal which compared Care Quality Commission reports from 6,476 surgeries across the country.
A report in revealed in the Mail Online showed that 36.4 per cent of Thurrock GPs are either inadequate or requiring improvement, after inspection by the healthcare watchdog.
Only Havering and Waltham Forest have higher figures in the UK.
Health professionals in Thurrock say the borough has a shortage of doctors, which contributes to the statistics.
Rahul Chaudhauri, head of primary care at Thurrock CCG, said: "In Thurrock we face a unique situation where many of our GPs are working single-handed in premises that are often converted homes, rather than dedicated healthcare buildings. Thurrock is traditionally under-doctored with many nearing retirement.
"We are working with NHS England, who commission primary care in the area, to restructure and improve primary care facilities in Thurrock and we are confident with our plans for updating premises and improving quality, we will see a marked improvement in primary care in Thurrock over the next three to four years."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here