GP practice in Greater Manchester is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in March 2015.

Inspectors found that the practice was providing an innovative, caring, effective, responsive and well led service that meets the needs of the community it serves.

Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC (also known as Hollinwood Medical Practice) provides a primary care service to patients living in and around Oldham, Greater Manchester.

A full report of the inspection has been published today.

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 Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• Staff from the practice regularly attended primary schools in the area, drug and alcohol rehabilitation units and hostels to promote better healthcare and encourage patients to adopt healthier lifestyles.
• Offering longer appointments had led to a reduction in the use of local accident and emergency services.
• The practice had a very good staff skill mix which included a nurse prescriber, counsellors and rehabilitation workers who together were able to provide medical and social care to a wide range of patients with differing needs.
• The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the Patient Participation Group.
• The practice organised social activities for patients in the local area to increase awareness of what services the practice offered and reduce inappropriate attendance at walk in centres or accident and emergency departments.
• The practice had identified areas locally where there was a higher incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). In collaboration with the local CCG the practice is working to reduce the effects of this condition throughout the community.
• All staff were supported by appraisals in order to identify learning needs, and staff told inspectors that the practice was proactive in providing relevant training.

Sue McMillan, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North said:

“It is clear that Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC is providing a well led and highly responsive service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Greater Manchester.

“I was particularly impressed with practice’s proactive work to encourage patient engagement and initiate positive service improvements. We found that staff demonstrated a sound understanding of the differing needs of their patients and acted on these needs in the planning and delivery of its services

“The GPs and staff at Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC have demonstrated a real commitment to their patients.

“All of this hard work and dedication pays off in making a real difference for their patients – which is why we have found this practice to be Outstanding.”

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:

“I am delighted to highlight the exceptional standard of care which is being provided by Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC.

“The practice has a clear vision to improve the health and wellbeing of its patients and reach out to people within the community to offer support.

“Feedback from patients was extremely positive and many praised the kindness and compassion shown by staff.

“Our inspectors saw staff at the practice were committed to providing high quality care and promoting good outcomes for patients. This is an exceptional example of clinical leadership at its best - focussed on the needs of the local people.”

Ends

For further information please contact CQC Regional Communications Officer Mark Humphreys on 0191 233 3519. Alternatively, the CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07789 876508.