PRIME Minister Tony Blair will present a doctor's surgery with a quality award on Friday.

Dr Dinah Roy and her staff at The Surgery, in Oxford Road, Spennymoor, have achieved the Quality Practice Award, given by the Royal College of General Practitioners, for good organisation and high quality patient care.

To qualify, surgeries have to meet criteria laid out in 19 areas including clinical care, staff development, communication and availability.

The practice is the third within the Sedgefield Primary Care Group to gain the award.

Dr Roy said: "It's a lot of work, but I'm very pleased for my staff and everyone connected with the practice because we've all worked together. I'm very proud of them.