- GP practice
The Limes Medical Centre
Assessment report published 30 April 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
The Limes Medical Centre is a GP practice located at The Plain, Epping, Essex, CM16 6TL. The practice is situated within the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWEICB) and delivers General Medical Services (GMS) to a patient population of approximately 18,383 people. This is part of a contract held with NHS England. The practice is part of a wider network of GP practices within the Epping Forest North Primary Care Network (PCN).
The Limes Medical Centre is a 4-partner practice comprising 3 GP partners and 1 managing partner. The Limes Medical Centre has three branch locations under a shared patient list. The main Epping site spans two floors with no lift; all treatment rooms and reception are on the ground floor. Free parking is available at all sites.
Information about opening times was unclear. The practice website and the patient information booklet stated that branch surgery hours may vary and advised patients to check before visiting and that telephone lines were closed between 1pm and 2pm. The main Epping site was described as being open from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on Saturdays for specific clinics. However, following the inspection, the practice clarified that all 4 branches and the telephone lines operate from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, with extended Saturday hours at the Epping site for designated clinics.
Waltham Abbey Branch Surgery is on the first floor of Waltham Abbey Health Centre, Stewardson Road, Essex (EN9 1NP). The building, owned by NHS Property Services, has lift access. The branch shares reception and waiting areas with another practice and is open Monday to Friday between 8am and 6:30pm.
North Weald Branch Surgery is located at 67 Wheelers Farm Gardens, North Weald, Epping, Essex, CM16 6HZ. It occupies the ground floor of a detached property with two clinical rooms. The first floor is a separate supported living residence. Parking is available for staff and patients. Opening hours of this branch are subject to change.
The third branch is in Theydon Bois at Thrifts Mead, Poplar Row, Epping, Essex, CM16 7NE. It is a ground-floor property with staff and patient parking. Opening hours also subject to change.
Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the eighth lowest decile (8 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the practice population is relative to others. According to the latest available data, The National General Practice Profiles states that the ethnic make-up of the practice area is 90% White, 3% Asian, 2% Black, 3% Mixed and 1% other ethnicity. The practice population had an equal percentage of males and females and a larger population of patients aged between 50 to 64 years of age.
This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the service, the context the service was working within and how this impacted service delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report.
The practice website can be found at www.thelimesmedicalcentre.com.
During our assessment, we found the provider to be in breach of our regulations in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People's experience of this service
People’s feedback showed that their overall experience of the quality of their care and treatment was mixed. We reviewed a variety of information from significant events and complaints submitted by the practice, complaints and feedback sent to CQC prior to and during the inspection, practice survey results and verified online NHS patient reviews. We also reviewed patient feedback from the 2024 National Patient GP survey and data submitted by the provider. Feedback showed people were generally satisfied with services such as the care received but quality of care and access was an issue. Positive patient experiences also emphasised courteous and helpful reception staff, efficient telephone systems, caring clinical interactions and smooth on-site experiences such as parking and waiting times. There was an active patient participation group (PPG) of 600 virtual members who represented the views of people using the service. Representatives from the PPG described how managers made positive changes in response to patient feedback.