More than 40,000 patients in Braintree are at risk of receiving poor care from their GPs, according to a new ratings system created by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The health watchdog has placed three of the town’s practices on a national list of 1,200 surgeries claimed to be putting patients at “risk” or “elevated risk” of poor care.

Ratings are given on a level of one to six, with one being the most at risk of giving poor care, based on how surgeries meet 38 key indicators.

Blyth's Meadow Surgery in Trinovantian Way and the Blandford Medical Centre in Mace Avenue were put in the highest risk category alongside 864 other practices in England.

The two practices serve 28,097 people, just under half of all the patients registered in the town.

Mount Chambers Medical Practice in Coggeshall Road, which serves nearly 13,000, was given a number two rating after being found to have two serious risks and one other.

See this week's Braintree Times for the full story.