Some GP surgeries in Chingford are putting patients at risk through poor treatment, it has emerged.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found five of the eight registered practices in the E4 postcode were performing to the highest level.

Practices were graded in six bands, with Band One being the highest concern, and Band Six the least risky.

But Larkshall Medical Centre, in Larkshall Road, was given the second lowest rating by the watchdog (Band 2).

It will be inspected in the next 12 months after diabetes patients were found to be facing a high risk of poor treatment.

Patients suffering from hypertension were also not receiving adequate care.

The Ridgeway Surgery, in Mount Echo Avenue, was placed in Band 4 over failures on coronary heart disease and flu vaccinations.

Churchill Medical Centre missed its targets for hospital admissions of cancer patients on the disease register and patients did not always see or speak to their preferred GP.

The surgeries given the top rating for treatment (Band 6) were:

The Old Church Surgery, in Chingford Avenue, Kingshead Medical Practice, in King’s Head Hill, The Microfaculty surgery, in Chingford Mount Road, Handsworth Medical Practice, in Handsworth Avenue, Highams Park, Chingford Medical Practice in York Road.

However, Chingford Medical Centre missed its targets for hospital admissions of cancer patients on the disease register.

Handsworth Medical Practice missed the required standard for the treatment of patients with possible Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Of the 45 GP surgeries registered in Waltham Forest, patients at 12 were found to be at risk of receiving poor treatment and given the lowest rating (Band 1).

Only eight surgeries achieved the best score for treatment (Band 6) and of those, five were in the E4 postcode area. 

Independent watchdog Healthwatch Waltham Forest says there is evidence to suggest patients in the north of the borough experience better care. 

A spokeswoman said: "Although we acknowledge the CQC ratings are not an indication on quality of service we do recognise some of the banding judgements they have published. 

"These tally with our own patient experience information and the comments we independently analyse from NHS Choices, broadly speaking, that patients in Chingford have a better experience of care than those in other parts of the borough. 

"During our 2013 GP survey, we found that people in Chingford had been registered longer with their GP than those in other parts of the borough, so it is probable, that this better established relationship results in patients reporting better experience."