DOCTORS in Suffolk have today been praised for delivering high quality care to patients.New figures show the county's GPs are performing better than their counterparts nationally at providing high-quality services to patients.

DOCTORS in Suffolk have today been praised for delivering high quality care to patients.

New figures show the county's GPs are performing better than their counterparts nationally at providing high-quality services to patients.

The practices were measured against a range of medical and organisational factors as part of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).

In Suffolk the average score for compliance with the targets was 98.6per cent, compared to 96.8pc nationally.

Ten surgeries in the county scored 100per cent, and all were given more than 90pc.

Melanie Craig, deputy director of performance with NHS Suffolk, said: “These figures show that GP practices in Suffolk are continuing to deliver high quality care to their patients.

“In addition, ten of the county's practices achieved the maximum possible score - placing them among the best performing in the country.

“The QOF is also a helpful indicator to patients about the quality of services offered by their surgery.”

Bill Robinson, chief executive of the Suffolk Local Medical Committee, which represents the county's GPs, said: “I'm not surprised because I believe that we do have some of the best GP services in the country here.

“We've got to aim to maintain that. Each year the government tends to change the targets so we need to see what the new targets are and work towards them.”

The QOF was introduced to reward practices for the quality of their services, a higher score means a practice will receive more payment.

The Suffolk GPs which obtained top marks are the Barrack Lane Medical Practice in Ipswich, Little St John Street Surgery in Woodbridge, Martlesham Surgery, Constable Country Practice in East Bergholt, Angel Hill Surgery, Swan Surgery and Victoria Surgery in Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket's Orchard House Surgery, Elbourne Surgery in Brandon and Avicenna in Hopton, near Diss.

Have you received good care from your GP? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.