CQC inspectors find Locality Health Centre in Weston-Super-Mare to be Outstanding

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by the Locality Health Centre at Weston-Super-Mare to be Outstanding following an inspection in April.

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

The inspection team, which included a GP, a practice manager and a nurse as specialist advisors, rated the services provided by the Locality Health Centre as Outstanding for older patients, families, children and young people and people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. A full report of the inspection has been published today.

The surgery in Lonsdale Avenue, is run by a community enterprise company. It serves more than 5,000 patients.

The report highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• To help address concerns about pregnancy in young people the nurse visits a local school to advise on contraception. The nurse also runs a weekly clinic about sexual health for people under the age of 21 years.
• Patients were treated in an environment which provided access to a range of community-based services which supported their wellbeing. The practice shared facilities with the Healthy Living Centre which includes a church, a café, a library, a nursery, a shop and a clothing bank as well as other community spaces.
• Relatively high demand for consultation around low mood and anxiety are met by GPs and nurses working in partnership with other organisations to support the emotional wellbeing of patients.

Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:

"The Locality Health Centre is at the centre of a hub of activity, with different organisations working together for the benefit of the people living in this community. All aspects of the centre are linked and provides significant support for patients registered with the practice."

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:

“I am delighted to highlight the exceptional standard of care which is being provided by the Locality Health Centre.

"It is clear that this practice goes over and above its contractual obligations for the benefit of its patients. Just one example is the daily lunch club for older people. The practice refers patients with poor nutrition to the club while the club will bring patients to the practice's attention if they identify any concerns. We saw practice staff visiting the lunch club to check that those attending were well. There are many other examples.

"The GPs, nurses and all the practice staff together deserve the credit for this Outstanding service."

Ends

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