The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Northam Surgery, in Devon, to be Outstanding following an inspection in February.
Inspectors found the practice was providing a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led service that meets the needs of the population it serves.
A full report of the inspection has now been published and is available on this website.
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.
Garry Higgins, Head of Inspection for General Practice in CQC’s South region said:
“It is clear Northam Surgery is providing an effective, responsive and well-led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Devonshire.
“The practice had a clear vision and strategy to deliver this vision had been produced with stakeholders and was regularly reviewed and discussed with staff.
“High standards were promoted and owned by practice staff with evidence of good team working across all roles. There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels.
“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.”
Julia Cory, Head of Primary Care with NHS England in the South West said:
“This is brilliant news for the patients and staff at Northam Surgery, and a reflection of the standard of care they provide. They are a really well organised and innovative practice which continually looks for ways to improve patient outcomes. Recently the practice piloted an improved diagnostic pathway for patients with suspected urine infections, which has now been rolled out across the CCG area.
“The ‘outstanding’ rating demonstrates what can be achieved and how it’s the patients who benefit when the skills and commitment of staff are harnessed fully.”
The report on Northam Surgery highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:
- Northam Surgery has taken a systematic approach to working with other organisations to improve care outcomes, tackle health inequalities and obtain best value for money.
- The practice strategy and supporting objectives are stretching, challenging and innovative. There were several examples of this, including the approach taken in recognition of the link between social isolation and heightened health risks. Innovative communitarian initiatives such as a Sunday afternoon tea club were soon to start at practice, with a GP and nurse available to see patients.
- The practice was caring and extremely patient centred with a strong community presence. Thirty nine patients we spoke with, and comments received in the 30 comment cards, said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. The practice had a taxi fund, which it used to support vulnerable patients enabling them to get to and from appointments safely when needed.
Ends
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Find out more
Read reports from our checks on the standards at Northam Surgery
It is clear Northam Surgery is providing an effective, responsive and well-led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Devonshire.
Garry Higgins, Head of Inspection for General Practice in the South region