Waterloo Medical Practice, Blackpool is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by the Waterloo Medical Practice in Blackpool to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in July 2015.

Inspectors rated the practice as Outstanding for effectiveness, responsiveness and well led and Good for safety and caring. Overall, the practice was rated as Outstanding. A full report of the inspection has been published today.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all England’s GP practices are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The report on the Waterloo Medical Practice highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice including:

• The practice had a comprehensive sexual health programme that they could demonstrate reached all areas of the local population even those not registered with the practice.
• The practice regularly supported GP trainees who were in need of extension to their training. The surgery also offered places on their training programmes to other practices in the local area.
• The practice offered a referral to a family nurse practitioner to all teenage pregnancy mothers to support and coach them through their pregnancy and first year of their child’s life.
• The practice had achieved the Navajo Kite Mark as a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender friendly practice.

Sue McMillan CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North says:

“The Waterloo Medical Practice serves the fifth most deprived ward in the country. The area's teenage pregnancy rate is the second worst in the North West, so I was particularly impressed with the referral system - to a family nurse practitioner for all teenage pregnancy mothers that supported and coached them through their pregnancy.

“The practice is to be applauded for its engagement with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. It has been recognised with a Navajo Kite Mark as a LGBT friendly practice.

“In areas of deprivation and difficult-to-get-to groups, Waterloo succeeds.

“Patients had confidence in the staff and the doctors who cared for and treated them.

“There were a number of excellent examples of the surgery working with people living in vulnerable circumstances, providing regular health checks, offering both longer and short notice appointments and providing support to carers.

“This is an excellent practice that faces many challenges, situated in the second most densely populated area outside of London. The GP partners have demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment in their discussions with the CQC team during the inspection and they had a detailed insight into the different needs and vulnerabilities of their local communities.”

Ends

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