A Shildon doctors' surgery has been presented with a Quality Practice Award by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Dr Surendra Baliga and staff at the Shildon Health Centre were celebrating their success last week, after assessors from the Royal College spent the day at their practice.

All practice staff, including health visitors, district nurses and midwives were involved.

The practice was required to submit a portfolio of written evidence that met criteria and quality standards for clinical care, communications, health and safety, information technology, procedures and protocols.

Dr Baliga said: "A lot of work and commitment was required to meet the standards set out for the award and it would certainly not have been possible to achieve this without the hard work and commitment of the staff at the practice and the primary health care team.''

Nigel Porter, chief executive of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust, said: "This is the seventh GP practice in the Sedgefield area to achieve the Quality Practice status and the trust hopes that other GP practices in the area will also strive to achieve this important award."