Healthcare plays a major role in our entire lifecycle. From maternity and childbirth to the unwavering support offered as part of end-of-life care, there’s never a time in our lives when healthcare doesn’t play a pivotal role. It won’t be a surprise, then, that many of us seek out the highest standard from our doctors, dentists and mental health professionals.
While the stringent NHS standards around hospital hygiene do go a long way, they’re not always what we might see on the surface. That’s where the Care Quality Commission (CQC) comes in. As an independent regulatory body, they conduct strict audits and inspections that strive to enforce effective infection control, patient care, and safety across our healthcare facilities.
That’s the basis of our report on the worst areas for healthcare in London. We’ll be taking the CQC’s latest statistics on the state of hospitals, clinics and surgeries across the capital, and breaking down what you’ll need to be aware of to make an informed decision on where you receive your care.
Despite being one of the most densely populated cities across the whole of Europe, and a major metropolitan hub, London’s healthcare services do (for the most part) manage to keep pace with the demands of the capital’s residents. Around 87.4% of London’s healthcare facilities have been deemed “Good” or “Outstanding” by the CQC.
A deeper dive into that reveals that 2.7% (or 192) of the capital’s medical services were given that elusive “Outstanding” rating from the CQC. These really go above and beyond, offering unparalleled levels of patient care and cleanliness protocols. A key example of that would be The Royal Marsden, which secured Outstanding status across 8 different measures.
A further 84.7% were rated “Good”, meaning they’re meeting the strict guidelines outlined by the Care Quality Commission. Of course, there’s still scope for these facilities to improve, but they’re a good measure of what you can expect as a general rule for healthcare in London.
That’s unfortunately where the good news stops for the capital’s residents. While the majority of services are rated as “Good” or above, there’s still a notable amount that fall below that expected standard. These are marked as either “Requires Improvement” or, in extreme cases, “Inadequate”.
Around 12% of all of London’s healthcare facilities – or more than 1 in every 10 – fall short of the CQC’s standards, being rated as requiring improvement. This can be a multitude of factors, but from Vanguard’s research, this usually revolves around dipping standards of cleanliness, care or outpatient facilities.
Of course, while only 1.1% of medical facilities in the London area received that dreaded “Inadequate” rating, that still equates to 142 which fall far short of what we expect from our clinics, surgeries and hospitals. Of those, you’d find 8 in Lambeth, and the same in Islington, Hackney and Westminster.
But how do they stack up in comparison to the wider London area? Let’s break down the worst areas for healthcare in London, and what that means for the city’s residents.
We’re ranking the worst boroughs of London for healthcare. You’ll find key statistics below, including how many fall short of the standards outlined by the Care Quality Commission.
Perched on London’s northern border with Hertfordshire, the borough of Enfield inherits some of the county’s leafy locale. Characterised by the greenery and splendour of places like Chase Green Gardens, juxtaposed against the bustle of the region’s weekly market, it’ll be no doubt shocking to see Enfield make the list of the worst areas for healthcare in London.
While the borough’s 10 Outstanding medical centres go some way towards rescuing Enfield’s reputation, there are mounting concerns around the 57 facilities that require improvement, especially so with the 3 that were rated as “Inadequate”.
Home to Wembley’s iconic arches, the Brent area is one of two halves. From the built-up areas around the borough’s major landmarks and its sporting heritage to the more serene surroundings of Queen’s Park that spills over from Westminster, it’s easy to see why Brent has the reputation it does.
Sullying that, however, is its less stellar medical services. The latest data from the CQC points towards several issues, with 85 falling into the “Requires Improvement” category, and 4 more receiving that concerning “Inadequate” rating.
So named for the infamous Tower of London at the heart of the borough, Tower Hamlets is an enigmatic area of the capital. While there’s an abundant sense of history in the borough’s monuments (namely Tower Bridge and the East London Mosque), there’s also a distinct tinge of modernity in Canary Wharf and some of London’s tallest and most imposing buildings.
Where Tower Hamlets is let down, however, is in its medical services. Just shy of 13% of all medical services in the borough fall short of the CQC’s guidelines, with 116 receiving a rating of “Requires Improvement” or lower.
Renowned for its place in the upper echelons of education, there’s more to Harrow than meets the eye. Nestled away in the borough, you’ll find hidden gems like Stanmore Common & Country Park (two of urban Lond’s largest green spaces), alongside the contemporary Usurp Art Gallery.
Harrow harbours a dark secret in its struggling medical facilities, with 13.2% requiring improvement. A deeper dive into that statistic reveals that there are 73 that need some improvement and a further 1 that’s been rated as “Inadequate”.
One of West London’s more squirreled-away hotspots, Ealing is perhaps more known for its bustling public transport connections than for its myriad contributions to the arts and culture scene in the capital. That includes festivals and shows across Walpole Park, as well as the historic birthplace of iconic figures in the music industry.
The borough is also cultivating a reputation as one of London’s worst areas for healthcare, with just shy of 14% of all medical services requiring improvement. Within that, a concerning 4 received that startling “Inadequate” rating.
Formerly part of Kent, the London Borough of Bromley perches at the southeastern fringes of the capital. Given its proximity to the rurality of the South East, it’ll come as no surprise that Bromley is one of London’s greener areas, with an estimated 30% taken up by farmland. Less impressive, though, is Bromley’s reputation in its healthcare facilities.
With 63 different facilities falling below the CQC’s expected standards – 3 of which are ranked as “Inadequate” – there’s a fair way to go before the borough falls out of London’s problem areas for healthcare. However, when we compare that to the worst areas for medical care in the South East, Bromley ranks comparatively low.
The home of Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, Hillingdon could be viewed as London’s hub for aviation, especially given that British Airways calls the borough home. It’s far from the region’s only contribution, though, with Hillingdon being among London’s most prosperous boroughs.
That prosperity hasn’t translated to better medical care, however, with 38 of Hillingdon’s 262 medical facilities falling below the standards outlined by the CQC.
A contender for London’s most picturesque borough, Hounslow seamlessly couples its green spaces and spots of natural beauty (such as Chiswick Park) with the modernity that’s made it a hub for major retail businesses. It’s also home to one of the capital’s many Premier League football teams in Brentford.
While there’s much to draw the discerning traveller to Hounslow, it’s the borough’s medical services that let it down. 58 healthcare facilities fall below the CQC’s standards, earning Hounslow a spot among London’s worst areas for healthcare.
Officially named as the happiest place to live in the UK last year, Richmond-upon-Thames offers a small slice of idyllic surroundings for those who venture to the borough. From the unspoiled scenery of Kew Gardens through to the raucous rugby crowds of Twickenham, there’s little wonder Richmond earns that title.
There’s a sour note, however, that could sully that reputation – the borough’s medical services. While 545 facilities have been rated, 76 of them require some improvement, and a further 4 have been deemed Inadequate.
Newham is a veritable borough of two halves, with the sprawling Westfield Shopping Centre and the prestigious ExCeL Centre offering a stark contrast to the sporting and cultural accomplishments that occupy spots across the borough area. Undercutting that, however, is Newham’s less stellar reputation in its healthcare services.
Of course, the borough’s 14 “Outstanding” rated facilities are a point of pride, but there’s a much higher number (104) that have received the “Requires Improvement” status and a further 7 that have been deemed “Inadequate”.
One of the host boroughs for London’s iconic 2012 Olympic Games, the Barking & Dagenham borough is one that’s long been the focus of much of the capital’s development. That’s led to a thoroughly modern area of the capital, especially so along the Riverside area, and in the residential and housing opportunities for the borough’s burgeoning population.
That increasing popularity may well be a contributing factor towards the struggling healthcare scene in Barking & Dagenham. Of the borough’s 669 medical facilities that have been rated, 102 of them fall below the CQC’s standards, with 6 receiving an “Inadequate” rating.
While lending its name to the infamous Meridian might be Greenwich’s main claim to fame, it’s quickly establishing a more modern reputation as a tourist hub. Of course, that chronal charm is a major part of that, but the borough also hosts London’s O2 Arena, as well as countless restaurants and retailers.
Undercutting that appeal is the region’s ongoing battle with poor healthcare. According to the CQC’s data, of the 738 facilities that have received a rating to date, 110 required improvement, while another 6 were ranked as “Inadequate”.
One of London’s largest suburban hubs, offering numerous routes into the heart of the capital itself, Havering is perhaps a great encapsulation of modern inner-city London. With large swathes still reserved for green space and affordable rented housing, there’s much to draw residents to Havering.
Those residents run the risk of subpar medical care, however. Havering earns a spot among London’s worst areas for healthcare, with 44 facilities falling short of the mark, and a further 2 that are far below what the CQC expect.
One of London’s major educational hubs as the home to Goldsmith’s University, Lewisham strives to offer an environment that befits the prestigious uni. That includes some of the capital’s premier cultural contributions, which earned it the London Borough of Culture back in 2020.
Despite those indisputable accolades, however, Lewisham finds itself spiralling to a reputation for concerning levels of healthcare. That’s best exemplified by the 101 facilities that have been rated as “Requiring Improvement”, as well as 5 worrying facilities that secured an “Inadequate” rating.
On the very fringes of the city itself, Bexley is one of London’s easternmost boroughs. Bordering the rolling hills of Kent, it’ll come as no surprise that Bexley’s suburban reaches are intertwined with the neighbouring county’s greenery. What will come as a surprise, however, is that Bexley tops the list of London’s worst areas for healthcare.
Of the 244 facilities that have undergone the CQC’s rigorous auditing and inspections, there are 47 that have been rated as “Requiring Improvement”. There’s also an equal number of facilities that have received both the best rating (4 “Outstanding” facilities) and the worst rating (4 “Inadequate” facilities) – the only borough of London to secure that unwanted accolade.
To be as transparent and informative as possible, we’re using the latest data available from the Care Quality Commission’s official data repository. This allows us to view all the data for healthcare in London, along with the relevant ratings. These are all taken from within a 5-mile radius of the centre of the borough.
This does mean there’s some crossover. Take Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, for example – this is likely to serve multiple boroughs, given its proximity to major residential areas like Kensington, Hammersmith, and Camden.
In the interest of offering a more concrete idea of what healthcare is like across the capital, we’ve excluded the services that haven’t yet been rated by the CQC. For reference, only 22,862 services have been rated (out of a possible 64,857), meaning we’re taking our data from those. This not only allows us to understand the state of medical care in London but also gives a more concrete percentage of the services that need improvement.
