The lead GP at a practice rated the best in Brent by patients has praised the “care and compassion” of its staff.

Dr Nam Hunger-Nguyen, who joined Church End Medical Centre two years ago, told Brent and Kilburn Times that his “fantastic team…go above and beyond every single day”.

The surgery in Mayo Road, which serves around 8,400 people, had the highest overall patient satisfaction in Brent according to the GP Patient Survey 2023.

A total of 87% of patients who responded to the survey said that their experience at the practice was ‘good’, well above the national average of 71%.

Dr Hunger-Nguyen claimed that the key to Church End Medical Centre’s success was its ability to listen to the local community.

He said: “It’s been a really difficult time for our patients, with the economy and the pandemic – it’s cost them enormously.

“We’ve heard that many wanted more face-to-face consultations as well as online options so, basically, we did it.”

One patient reviewing the surgery on the NHS website last year said: "I am using the practice on [a] weekly basis.

"The receptionists are really wonderful. The nurses are great. The GPs are kind, always looking after me with multiple health conditions. They never let me down.

"I am very lucky to have them as my first contact."

As well as offering more face-to-face consultations, the practice has implemented an appointment system that ensures those with the highest needs see the same GP every time they visit.

Dr Hunger-Nguyen said that these include patients with learning difficulties, very complex chronic care issues or social housing issues.

This has resulted in more patients at the surgery saying that they get to see or speak to their preferred GP when they would like to.

In 2018, just under a quarter of patients said that they were always or almost always able to speak to their preferred GP. This year, that number is almost double, standing at 42%.

Although fewer than half of patients were satisfied by this metric, the surgery was well-above the national average of 35%.

Dr Hunger-Nguyen said: “It’s a system-wide thing. Nationally, that metric is very poor in comparison to others – it just reflects this concept that there are not enough doctors.”

He added that some staff at the practice have been working there for 35 years, while some of the GPs have been there for more than 20 years.

Dr Hunger-Nguyen said: “We serve a community that’s the lowest income group and the highest needs nationally so… it’s part of our DNA to tailor our services to these particular needs. And we have that fantastic team.

“If you take all those things together that’s how patients get happier and healthier.”