The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by the Deane Medical Centre, Bolton to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in December 2014.
Inspectors rated the practice as outstanding for safety, well-led and effectiveness and good for, caring, and responsiveness. A full report of the inspection has been published on this website.
Under CQC’s new 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.
The report on Deane Medical Centre highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice including:
- A non-English Speaking Patient (NESP) support worker worked from the practice. They were able to translate for patients but also worked with families and individuals to educate them in health matters and how the NHS worked. The practice had been proactive in organising the service as an innovative way of meeting the needs of their patient population
- A GP telephoned a care home every Friday to see if they had any concerns that required attention before the weekend. The home provided feedback to us, stating that a GP visited at least once a week, had a walk around to see any patient who required attention, and involved patients in their care planning
- The GPs and practice nurses arranged meetings for other clinicians in the area. These were used to share good practice, collectively discuss serious untoward incidents and significant events, and take part in training sessions as part of their continuing professional development (CPD).
- A practice nurse ran a drop in centre for students at the university. Any student could attend, including patients of other practices. Where appropriate patients were signposted to the most appropriate service, and their healthcare needs could be met by the nurse if possible. There was evidence of mental health issues being identified during these drop in sessions.
Sue McMillan is CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North:
“The care we observed at the practice really was excellent. It sets a very high standard that every GP Practice should seek to attain.
“The practice is to be commended for the way in which it keeps in contact with its local care homes - a vital link within the local social care sector.
“Deane Medical Centre has good facilities, was well equipped and had a clear vision which had quality and safety as its top priority.”
Ends
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Find out more
Read our reports on Deane Medical Centre.
The practice is to be commended for the way in which it keeps in contact with its local care homes - a vital link within the local social care sector.
Sue McMillan, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North