GeraClinic / Research / GP quality by region / North West
GP practices rated “outstanding” in North West
53 of 952 CQC-rated GP practices in North West hold the outstanding rating — the CQC’s highest band — as of 1 June 2026.
As of 1 June 2026, 53 of 952 GP practices in North West with an overall CQC rating — 5.6% — were rated “outstanding”, the CQC’s highest overall rating. That is above the England-wide 4.7%. North West ranks 4 of 9 English regions by share of “outstanding” practices (1 = most).
North West GP practices by CQC rating
The “outstanding” band in the context of every overall rating in North West.
- Outstanding
- 53 (6%)
- Good
- 862 (91%)
- Requires improvement
- 28 (3%)
- Inadequate
- 8 (1%)
- Not rated
- 1 (0%)
Where the “outstanding” practices are
Local authorities in North West with a GP practice rated “outstanding”, ranked by count.
| Local authority | Rated | Outstanding | Outstanding share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmorland and Furness | 35 | 9 | 25.7% |
| Lancashire | 125 | 7 | 5.6% |
| Wigan | 51 | 6 | 11.8% |
| Manchester | 79 | 6 | 7.6% |
| Cumberland | 24 | 4 | 16.7% |
| Bolton | 46 | 3 | 6.5% |
| Warrington | 26 | 2 | 7.7% |
| Trafford | 26 | 2 | 7.7% |
| Tameside | 32 | 2 | 6.3% |
| Oldham | 32 | 2 | 6.3% |
| Stockport | 33 | 2 | 6.1% |
| Rochdale | 36 | 2 | 5.6% |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 23 | 1 | 4.3% |
| Cheshire East | 36 | 1 | 2.8% |
| Salford | 36 | 1 | 2.8% |
| Sefton | 39 | 1 | 2.6% |
| Liverpool | 85 | 1 | 1.2% |
Local authorities with at least 20 rated GP practices and one or more “outstanding” practice, ranked by count.
Frequently asked questions
How many GP practices in North West are rated "outstanding"?
As of 1 June 2026, 53 of 952 GP practices in North West with an overall CQC rating were rated "outstanding" — 5.6% of the region's rated practices. Across England, 285 practices hold this rating (4.7%).
How does North West compare with the rest of England for "outstanding" GP practices?
North West ranks 4 of 9 English regions by share of "outstanding"-rated GP practices (1 = most). Its 5.6% share is above the England-wide 4.7%.
Which area of North West has the most "outstanding" GP practices?
Among local authorities in North West with at least 20 rated practices, Westmorland and Furness has the most: 9 of 35 rated practices (25.7%), as of 1 June 2026.
What does a "outstanding" CQC rating mean?
Outstanding is the CQC’s highest overall rating. It means the service is performing exceptionally well — markedly better than the standard the regulator expects. Fewer than one in twenty English GP practices hold it.
Where does this data come from?
Figures are from the CQC's official "Care directory with ratings" (as-of 1 June 2026), published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. They count the single overall rating per GP practice; the CQC uses a categorical scheme, not a numeric score. Ratings change as practices are re-inspected — check cqc.org.uk for a specific practice.
Keep exploring North West
- All CQC GP ratings in North West — the full rating breakdown and local-authority table.
- “Inadequate”-rated GP practices in North West
“Outstanding” GP practices in other regions
Source: Care Quality Commission www.cqc.org.uk. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings are taken from the CQC’s Care directory with ratings (01_June_2026_Latest_ratings.ods, as-of 1 June 2026), published at www.cqc.org.uk. CQC ratings are categorical and change as practices are re-inspected. This analysis is by GeraClinic and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CQC.