Cambridgeshire GP surgery is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Sawston Medical Practice, to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in June 2015.

The practice is located in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area and provides a range of general medical services to approximately 14,000 registered patients living in Sawston, Duxford, Whittlesford, Pampisford, Hinxton and other surrounding villages.

Inspectors found that the practice was providing a safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led service that meets the needs of the population it serves.

A full report of the inspection has now been published today.

Under CQC’s new 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 Sawston Medical Practice highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

The practice offered a rapid access clinic for patients to be seen urgently. This included a visiting GP, who was available from 8am to 6pm to undertake home visits. The practice published monthly performance data for appointments, consultations and waiting times.

• The practice had low average waiting times, for March 2015 this was 4.7 minutes.
• Patients with long term conditions were recalled at least annually for an appointment to have all relevant tests undertaken. The results were then reviewed by a GP who advised on the most appropriate action. If patients did not require further intervention, this was not provided. This reduced the need for patients to attend numerous appointments.
• A breastfeeding room and a separate baby changing room were available for patients to use.
• The practice ran a walking group every Tuesday which was available for patients to help them maintain their health and well-being.
• Staff received a weekly newsletter which updated them with important information and included the positive achievements of staff.
• The practice delivered medicines to villages that had central collection points. Staff also delivered medicines to some patients who were housebound and were extending this to patients who had difficulty in collecting their medicines.

Janet Williamson, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice and Dentistry in CQC’s Central region said:

“It is clear that Sawston Medical Practice is providing an effective, responsive and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Cambridgeshire.

“Feedback from patients and clinical teams was excellent and staff went above and beyond their level of duty to care for patients. We were particularly impressed by the effort made to ensure patients unable to attend the practice still received their medicines in a timely manner.

“We found that the practice displayed an excellent understanding of the differing needs of their patients and staff demonstrated a commitment to help and support them. It worked well with other service providers to meet patients' needs and manage those of patients with complex needs.

“All of this hard work pays off in making a real difference to patients – which is why we have found this practice to be Outstanding.”

Ends

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