The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Irwell Medical Practice in Bacup, Lancashire to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in November.
Inspectors rated the practice as Outstanding for being caring, and well-led, and Good for being safe, effective, and responsive, giving them their overall Outstanding rating.
A full report of the inspection has been published our website.
Alison Holbourn, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice said:
“Irwell Medical Practice was an impressive service that was delivering high quality care across all of the areas that we look at on inspection."
“The feedback we received from people using their services was extremely positive. The practice also listened to the feedback people gave and used it to improve their services."
“The practice is extremely well-led, with management always pushing for continuous improvement with measurable improvements to patient care."
“For example we saw a new service where a nurse provided additional clinical care for patients in nursing and residential homes in Rossendale to reduce avoidable hospital admissions."
“All of the staff at this practice should be very proud of the service they are providing."
Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice said:
“I am delighted to highlight the exceptional service which is being provided by this practice.”
Some of the CQC’s findings included:
- The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- Staff treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- Feedback from both patients and staff was proactively sought and used to shape the delivery of high quality care.
- Patients found it easy to use the appointment system and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
- Reception staff knew that if patients wanted to discuss sensitive issues or appeared distressed they could offer them a private room to discuss their needs. A yellow card scheme was in place in reception. If a patient wished to speak in private, the yellow cards were available on each reception desk. They did not have to say anything, but instead hand a yellow card to the receptionist who would arrange a confidential room for the patient to speak to staff.
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For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Officer Kerri James by email kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or by phone on 07464 92 9966.
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Irwell Medical Practice was an impressive service that was delivering high quality care across all of the areas that we look at on inspection
Alison Holbourn, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice