The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by the Distington Surgery to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in October 2016.
Inspectors rated the practice as Outstanding for caring responsiveness and well-led and Good for safety, effectiveness.
The Distington practice provides services to approximately 4,000 patients from one location at Hinnings Road, Workington. The practice team comprised four GP partners, three salaried GPs, four practice nurses, one healthcare assistant, a practice manager plus 10 administrative and reception staff including a clinical interface manager.
Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. Inspectors could see that the practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North, Alison Holbourn says:
“This is an exceptional practice that is very well-led and supportive of its staff. We received a large number of positive comment cards and from the National GP Patient Survey the practice got a 98% satisfaction rating for delivering compassionate care.
The practice was using some innovative measures. Patients who did not live near to the practice were able to collect prescriptions from the local post office. Systems were in place to ensure this was safe.
When we look at GP practices we assess to see how they perform in six population groups; older people; people with long term conditions; families, children and young people; working age people (including those recently retired and students); People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable; people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). In each of these areas the practice was rated as Outstanding. It is clear that the Distington practice has the safety, health and welfare of all of its patients at the very heart of what it does and I congratulate them.”
The inspection team noted a number of outstanding areas of care including:
The involvement of other organisations and the local community was integral to how services were planned. The practice had worked with the local council and other groups to help create a “health walk” in the village. They operated a service with the local post office to allow patients to collect their prescriptions from there
The practice worked closely with local organisations to support the 7% of their patient list who they had identified as carers. Feedback from people who used the service, those who were close to them, and stakeholders was continually positive about the way staff treated people.
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The practice was using some innovative measures. Patients who did not live near to the practice were able to collect prescriptions from the local post office.
Alison Holbourn, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North