One of Britain’s biggest institutions lies in how we deliver our healthcare. From independent clinics that seek to skip the queues, to the selfless souls who work around the clock to keep the NHS ticking, there’s no denying the debt of gratitude we owe to those who provide the care we all rely upon at one stage or another.
However, while we always hope for the best in our healthcare, many fall short of the mark we’ve all come to expect. Hygiene standards in hospitals are so often a high bar, and for good reason, but as we’ve continually explored with our articles, it’s a bar not all medical facilities can clear.
With our latest exposé, we’re setting our sights on England’s North East, delving into major towns and cities across the area to see how their surgeries, hospitals and clinics stack up against each other, and across the country as a whole.
We’ll also reveal our methodology, and how we use data from the Care Quality Commission to give an unbiased reflection of healthcare in the North East.
A cultural and artistic melting pot, the North East of England has a reputation that so often precedes it. From its sporting prowess with the likes of the Tyneside derby, to its glittering nightlife, all punctuated by sites of historic significance, there’s little to be said about the North East that’s not already been committed to the written or spoken word.
However, our area of focus – the region’s medical services – is less broadcast, but perhaps it shouldn’t be, given its overwhelmingly positive reception. Almost 85% (84.8%, or 3,727 services) of all healthcare facilities have been rated as “Good” by the CQC.
That’s further compounded by a further 7.2% (315 services) that have achieved the coveted “Outstanding” rating – the pinnacle of the CQC’s 4-tiered ranking system. A standout example of that comes from West Road Medical Centre in Newcastle, which secured that Outstanding status across 5 of its 6 core services.
However, that’s aspirational for the vast majority of the region, and as we look more closely at the area’s medical services, the causes for concern become all too abundantly clear. 320 of the region’s healthcare facilities “Require Improvement”, while a further 31 fall well below what’s expected, earning the CQC’s lowest rating – “Inadequate”.
Of course, while those overall statistics make for understandably grim reading, not every area sees an even split of those services. Let’s break down some of the worst areas for healthcare in the North East, and what those statistics mean for residents and visitors alike.
We’ll be using the Care Quality Commission’s official ratings to determine where the most at-risk regions are, as well as officially the worst areas of the North East by their healthcare statistics.
With sandy shores offering vistas out across the North Sea, the port town of Blyth in Northumberland is one of the North East’s most picturesque, coupling history and heritage with tourist appeal. Less appealing, however, is the region’s medical facilities, with 8.7% requiring some form of improvement.
A deeper dive only serves to reinforce that. While the town has an impressive 10 facilities rated as “Outstanding”, it’s the additional 6 that “Require Improvement” that drive home Blyth’s place among the North East’s worst areas for healthcare.
Often viewed as the symbolic capital of the North East, Newcastle offers something for everyone. From the Magpies at St. James’ Park to the city’s bustling local economy, all crowned by its long-held mantle as one of the UK’s best nights, it’ll no doubt be disheartening to see the city ranking so highly among the North East’s worst areas for healthcare.
There’s good reason for that position, however. While Newcastle’s 25 “Outstanding” facilities are a point of pride, it’s the 26 healthcare services that “Require Improvement” and the further 2 deemed “Inadequate” that overshadow those positives.
One of the pet projects of the North East, Hartlepool’s regeneration in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable, bringing the seaside town to the 21st century. However, both crime and healthcare statistics paint a less savoury picture, with 8.9% of the town’s healthcare facilities requiring some form of improvement.
A closer look only serves to reinforce those preconceptions. While there are fortunately no healthcare services that rank as “Inadequate”, it’s the 5 medical facilities “Requiring Improvement” that underscore the distance Hartlepool still has to go.
Perhaps most closely associated with the iconic Angel of the North, Gateshead’s architectural triumphs persist throughout the town, with sights like the Trinity Square Halo and The Glasshouse continuing that theme. There’s less to shout about in the town’s healthcare statistics, though.
Around 9.1% of Gateshead’s medical services need to progress, with the CQC rating 26 of those as “Requiring Improvement”, and a further 2 rated as “Inadequate”.
One of the North East’s more ancient towns, Billingham is perhaps best known for its major agricultural chemical plant, which characterises the hard-working nature of the town itself. That’s sadly not as well supported by effective medical services as it could be, with 9.4% of the town’s medical facilities falling below what’s expected.
While there are positives – Gateshead’s 24 “Outstanding” chief among them – the negatives can’t be overlooked. 26 of the town’s healthcare services fell below the expected standards and “Require Improvement”, with an additional 2 rated as “Inadequate”.
Nestled in former coal mining territory, the appropriately named Ashington has since adopted a position as one of Newcastle’s most faithful commuter towns. However, despite its stature and heritage, the medical facilities leave a fair bit to be desired.
With 6 of the town’s 64 services rated thus far by the CQC receiving a “Requires Improvement” rating, it’s clear to see why Ashington falls into the realms of the worst areas for healthcare in the North East.
A historic market town in County Durham, Chester-Le-Street is best known for its rich history dating back to Roman times. It’s home to the Riverside Ground, a popular cricket venue, and offers a mix of historical sites and modern amenities, but its subpar medical services undercut that undeniable appeal.
With 9.5% of the town’s services falling below the expected standard, the statistics make for grim reading. 8 out of a possible 64 healthcare facilities received the CQC’s “Requiring Improvement” status, while a further 2 have been rated as “Inadequate” and placed into special measures.
One of Teesside’s most well-renowned areas, and so often mistaken for a city given its standing, Middlesbrough’s reputation precedes it in most circumstances, with sporting, cultural and artistic contributions all belying the town’s smaller stature. ‘Boro also harbours concerning issues with its medical services, too.
9.9%, or just shy of 1 in every 10, healthcare facilities fall below what the Care Quality Commission expects. Breaking that down further, 17 received the “Requires Improvement” rating, while an additional 3 were seen as “Inadequate” across one or multiple different factors.
One of the North East’s biggest hubs for industry, and integral to the region’s railways with its major rolling stock factory, Newton Aycliffe unfortunately can’t mask the uphill struggle it faces with the ongoing improvements to its medical facilities.
That only worsens when we look in more detail. There are small positives, of course – that’s most evident in the 3 services rated as “Outstanding” – but the negatives are much more imposing. A total of 4 healthcare services fell below the expected grade, earning a “Requiring Improvement” rating.
A riverside mainstay best known for its wide High Street, historic market, and the iconic Infinity Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees is usually overshadowed by its more well-known neighbours. One aspect where Stockton does rise above its neighbours, however, is in the poor standards of its medical services.
While 177 facilities have been rated by the CQC thus far, 17 of those are below par, rated as “Requiring Improvement” by the body. A further 3 go beyond that, with the Care Quality Commission ranking them as “Inadequate”.
A close cousin of our previous entry, Thornaby-on-Tees shares much of its neighbouring town’s economy and appeal, as well as that riverside locale. However, it takes a slightly larger share of the subpar medical facilities, with 10.7% falling below what the CQC expects.
Of the services rated so far, 21 aren’t up to scratch, with 18 receiving that “Requires Improvement” rating, and another 3 deemed “Inadequate”. There is a silver lining, though, with 10 rated as “Outstanding”, but that doesn’t stop Thornaby earning a high spot among the worst areas for healthcare in the North East.
One of the North East’s most sprawling housing estates, the town of Ingleby Barwick is comparatively young in comparison to its more ancient neighbours, with the modern iteration of the area only commencing development in the 1970s. That youth doesn’t preclude it from the same issues with healthcare services that plague its neighbours, however.
The glimmer of hope that stems from the area’s 8 “Outstanding” healthcare facilities pales when compared with the 17 that “Require Improvement”, as well as the further 2 which are “Inadequate”.
The subject of much regeneration in recent decades, Consett’s industrial decline is still in a moderate state of recovery, with recent plans to reinstate the railway line providing a glimpse into a brighter future for the town. There are improvements to be made elsewhere, though, not least in the area’s medical facilities.
While the CQC have only rated 35 of the services across the region, it’s the proportion of those that aren’t up to the governing body’s standards that means Consett falls to 3rd among the worst areas for healthcare in the North East. 3 have been rated as “Requiring Improvement”, and an additional 1 is in in remedial measures after being rated as “Inadequate”.
An ever-developing locale at the heart of the North East, Spennymoor’s largest claim to fame comes from its place in the mining communities that typified the wider region in the 80s and 90s. Now a major commuter town and hub in its own right, it’s a shock to see Spenny so high on the list of the North East’s worst areas for healthcare services.
There are substantial reasons behind its position, however. While 4 facilities received the highly sought-after “Outstanding” rating, it’s the 6 services that have fallen below par and “Require Improvement” that spark concern.
With a substantial history in its religious and regency roots, the town of Bishop Auckland is no doubt a place familiar to tourists and residents alike. What’s unlikely to be as familiar, though, is the issues the area has with its medical facilities, which ultimately see it take the top spot as the worst area of the North East for healthcare.
While Bishop Auckland does have some positives – one only needs to look at the 7 services rated as “Outstanding” – it’s outweighed substantially by the even 7 services that “Require Improvement”, and a further 1 that’s deemed “Inadequate”.
To be as fair and objective as possible, we’re using official data from the Care Quality Commission to determine the worst areas for healthcare in the North East. This comes directly from the government body itself and ensures we’re taking the most up-to-date statistics we can, as well as their official rating scales.
We’ve taken data for 30 of the most populous areas in the region and set our radius to include all healthcare services within 5 miles of the centre. This does mean that some facilities appear multiple times on the list (such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital serving Newcastle, Gateshead and Washington), but also ensures a complete picture of the healthcare in that area.
This report only covers the facilities that have so far been rated by the Care Quality Commission, which is 4,393 healthcare services out of a possible 10,365. This allows us to only give a picture of what’s been officially rated, rather than using speculative or inaccurate data.
