GP practices in Haringey are more likely to provide poor quality of care than the national average. 

The Care Quality Commission, the NHS watchdog responsible for inspecting GP surgeries, placed practices across the country into six bands, with band one being "most at risk of providing poor care".

In Haringey, 14 of 45 GP practices, roughly 30 per cent, fell into the worst performing band, compared to 11 per cent nationally.

The number of surgeries in the top band was also lower, with 20 per cent of surgeries reaching band six in Haringey. The national figure is nearly half, at 49 per cent.

According to Healthwatch Haringey, there are more than 90,000 registered patients in Haringey’s band one listed practices and over 105,000 in bands one and two. 

37 per cent of all registered patients in Haringey are therefore registered in practices that fall into the two categories "most at risk of providing poor care".

CQC chief inspector of general practice Prof Steve Field said: "It is important to remember that the data is not a judgement, as it is only when we inspect we can determine if a practice provides safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

"The data is a further tool that will help us to decide where to inspect and when".

Measures including patient experience, care and treatment were taken into account, based on sources including surveys and official statistics.

CQC staff considered five key questions about each surgery, asking whether they were safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

Healthwatch Haringey said the register did not necessarily indicate poor GP surgery performance.

The group's chairman Sharon Grant said: "In Haringey we have good reason to be pleased about this new system for inspecting GP practices.

"Although some practices do well, many patients already know the service they receive is less than satisfactory, and will welcome proper inspection so that things can be put right."

"The fact that some of our practices are being put high on the priority list for inspection by the CQC confirms what so many people have told us about their experiences locally.

"We look for forward to working with the CQC to ensure that the voice of patients is heard as they begin their work and we urge patients to come forward and tell us about their experiences."

A number of Haringey practices were not banded due to insufficient data.