GeraClinic / Research / GP quality by region / South East
GP practices rated “outstanding” in South East
29 of 788 CQC-rated GP practices in South East hold the outstanding rating — the CQC’s highest band — as of 1 June 2026.
As of 1 June 2026, 29 of 788 GP practices in South East with an overall CQC rating — 3.7% — were rated “outstanding”, the CQC’s highest overall rating. That is below the England-wide 4.7%. South East ranks 8 of 9 English regions by share of “outstanding” practices (1 = most).
South East GP practices by CQC rating
The “outstanding” band in the context of every overall rating in South East.
- Outstanding
- 29 (4%)
- Good
- 730 (93%)
- Requires improvement
- 28 (4%)
- Inadequate
- 1 (0%)
- Not rated
- 0 (0%)
Where the “outstanding” practices are
Local authorities in South East with a GP practice rated “outstanding”, ranked by count.
| Local authority | Rated | Outstanding | Outstanding share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | 140 | 8 | 5.7% |
| Buckinghamshire | 45 | 4 | 8.9% |
| Oxfordshire | 66 | 4 | 6.1% |
| Surrey | 106 | 4 | 3.8% |
| West Sussex | 75 | 3 | 4.0% |
| East Sussex | 50 | 2 | 4.0% |
| Milton Keynes | 24 | 1 | 4.2% |
| Brighton and Hove | 31 | 1 | 3.2% |
| Hampshire | 98 | 1 | 1.0% |
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 South East are rated "outstanding"?
As of 1 June 2026, 29 of 788 GP practices in South East with an overall CQC rating were rated "outstanding" — 3.7% of the region's rated practices. Across England, 285 practices hold this rating (4.7%).
How does South East compare with the rest of England for "outstanding" GP practices?
South East ranks 8 of 9 English regions by share of "outstanding"-rated GP practices (1 = most). Its 3.7% share is below the England-wide 4.7%.
Which area of South East has the most "outstanding" GP practices?
Among local authorities in South East with at least 20 rated practices, Kent has the most: 8 of 140 rated practices (5.7%), 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 South East
- All CQC GP ratings in South East — the full rating breakdown and local-authority table.
“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.