The Health Centre, South Ockendon: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Health Centre is a GP practice in South Ockendon with 6,193 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 82% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (Essex: 74%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in March 2024. It has 2.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 2,921 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Health Centre
Its best result against England is the share who described their last contact with the practice as good: 82%, above the England figure of 73%. Its weakest is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 50%, against 57% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 1 is above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 10 within it.
On overall experience it is 1st of the 5 practices in South Ockendon with 50 or more responses. 50% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 12 points higher than in 2025 (70%). 130 patients answered the survey (response rate 19%).
| Survey question | The Health Centre | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 82% | 74% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 50% | 50% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 56% | 56% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 51% | 51% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 87% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 82% | 70% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 75% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 82% | 84% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 81% | 83% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 88% | 91% | 93% |
| Needs met | 85% | 89% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 89% of 173 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for The Health Centre is Good, published in March 2024. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (September 2019).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
6,193 patients were registered at The Health Centre in September 2026, up 4.5% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
9% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 2,921 patients per GP, more than the England figure of 2,171 and Essex's 2,514. The practice also has 0.8 nurses and 1.4 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| August 2024 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| August 2025 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| August 2026 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 2,726 appointments a month, or 440 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 56% were face to face (England: 63%). 44% took place on the day they were booked and 11% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
46% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The Health Centre | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 440 | 480 | 510 |
| Face to face | 56% | 69% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 44% | 45% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 11% | 5% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a lower share of patients for osteoporosis (0.3% against 1.2%), dementia (0.4% against 0.8%) and cancer (1.9% against 3.8%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 25.3 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived). Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 81.4 years for women and 76.2 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 15.8% | 14.3% |
| High blood pressure | All ages | 12.7% | 15.2% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 8.5% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.4% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.0% | 4.6% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Cancer | All ages | 1.9% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 1.8% | 3.0% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 1.3% | 2.2% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 64.0% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 61.9% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 75.4% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 79.2% | 74.9% |
The Health Centre, Darenth Lane, South Ockendon, RM15 5LP. Phone: 01708 853113.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Sancta Maria Medical Centre | 0.1 km | 71% |
| The Derry Court Medical Practice | 0.2 km | 65% |
| Peartree Surgery and West Horndon Surgery | 2.0 km | 51% |
| Aveley Medical Centre | 2.1 km | 49% |
| Dr T Abela & Partners | 2.5 km | 66% |
- Aveley Medical Centre (49% overall experience good)
- Purfleet Care Centre (66% overall experience good)
- Sancta Maria Medical Centre (71% overall experience good)
- The Derry Court Medical Practice (65% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The Health Centre?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 82% of patients described their overall experience of The Health Centre as good, against 77% across England. 50% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Health Centre?
6,193 patients were registered in September 2026, up 4.5% on a year earlier.
What is The Health Centre's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in March 2024.
How many GPs does The Health Centre have?
2.1 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (3 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 2,921 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Health Centre face to face?
56% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Health Centre's phone number?
01708 853113.