CQC inspectors find Reeth Medical Centre in Richmond to be Outstanding

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Reeth Medical Centre, in Reeth near Richmond, to be Outstanding following an inspection in May 2015.

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 Pharmacist, a GP, and a practice nurse as specialist advisors, rated the services provided by the Reeth Medical Centre as Outstanding for older patients, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, people of working age, people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health.

A full report of the inspection has been published today.

The surgery on Back Lane in Reeth, serves approximately 1,600 patients.

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

• The practice supported patients to live healthier lives through a targeted and proactive approach to health promotion and prevention of ill health. The practice was actively involved in the local community; they had reached out to them to promote better health. For example, they wrote a regular column in the local newspaper and had attended pre-schools to administer flu vaccines.
• The practice offered an e-mail consultation service. Patients using the electronic consultation usually received a response within one working day.
• The practice had taken numerous locally available opportunities to implement service improvements and manage delivery challenges to its population.
• Both GPs at the practice had either completed or were in the process of completing a palliative care diploma to help identify those nearing the end of life and initiate discussion about people's wishes.
• The practice had become a member of the Upper Dales Area Partnership as they felt it likely there would be issues of common interest and concern between all different community groups. The meetings allowed an exchange of information, compliments, comments and concerns between members of the public, community groups and locally elected representatives

Sue McMillan, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North, said:

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

“Feedback from patients was very positive and a number of patients visited the practice on the day of the inspection specifically to share their positive experiences with us.

“We were particularly impressed with the practice’s work to initiate positive service improvements for local patients and the commitment of all staff to continuously seek improved outcomes for local people.

“Staff demonstrated a sound understanding of the differing needs of their patients and reflected these needs when planning and delivering services. This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like.”

Ends

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