The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Thistlemoor Road Surgery, Peterborough, outstanding – following an inspection in March.
The inspection was undertaken to assess whether the practice had made improvements CQC deemed were necessary following its previous inspection in February 2021. Following that inspection, the practice was rated good overall, but it was rated requires improvement for being safe.
In addition to being rated outstanding following the latest inspection, the surgery has been rated outstanding for being responsive to people’s needs and well-led. It has been rated good for being safe, effective and caring.
The latest inspection also contributed to a wider review CQC is undertaking into urgent and emergency care in the Cambridge and Peterborough area.
Andy Brand, CQC head of inspection, said:
“We were very impressed by the quality of care and treatment provided to people at Thistlemoor Road Surgery. In addition to being safe, it was delivered with kindness and respect.
“The service had addressed issues we previously found needed improvement, and it was now meeting high standards across all areas of its work.
“We were particularly impressed by how it planned care and treatment for local people’s specific needs. This included tailoring its approach to the transient nature of the local population and the large number of patients without English as a first language.
“We also found innovative use of healthcare assistants to support GPs’ work. This helped the practice deliver more effective and timely care, and improved patient access.
“An outstanding rating is the result of considerable hard work, so I congratulate the practice’s staff for all they have achieved for their patients.”
Inspectors found:
- A radical model for the role of healthcare assistants had been developed at the surgery. This was safe, effective and well-liked by patients, and used as an example of best practice by other organisations involved in primary medical care
- Care and treatment were targeted specifically to the needs of the patient population, rather than by headcount. This was particularly effective at providing good outcomes for the high number of transient local people
- Patient care was safe, effective and protected people from avoidable harm. Staff dealt with patients kindly, respecting and involving them in decisions about their care
- Eighty percent of the practice’s 30,000 patients did not have English as a first language, and staff sought to use people’s preferred language where possible. This also helped patients have full involvement in decisions about their care
- Staff successfully supported the COVID-19 response, including by encouraging vaccination uptake
- Leaders had an inspiring and shared purpose which motivated staff to succeed. This led to high staff satisfaction, which empowered them to provide good patient care.
Full details of the inspection are given in the report published on our website.
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