Great Missenden GP surgery rated Outstanding by Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by John Hampden Surgery, Prestwood, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, to be Outstanding following an inspection in January 2016.

The practice in Prestwood provides primary medical care services to approximately 3,300 patients.

Inspectors found that the practice was providing a safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led service that meets the needs of the population it serves. A full report of the inspection has now been published.

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. /p>

The report on John Hampden Surgery highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• Identifying dementia patients early, supporting them to access good quality care thereby improving their quality of life and prolonging independent living. There was a named dementia support nurse ensuring a personalised care plan for all dementia patients, all staff had additional training in recognising and supporting people with dementia, double appointments for dementia patients were routine and the practice environment was dementia friendly with appropriate signage and a ‘quiet space’.
• Recognising that carer’s health often takes second best, or neglected and was offering designated clinics every Friday for carers providing support to enable patients to live independently for longer. Of the 70 carers, 38 (54%) had so attended a carers’ clinic with appointments scheduled for the remaining.
• Being awarded a 'Safe Place' status. This scheme provides reassurance to vulnerable people, and to their families and carers, so that they have a means to alert someone of any potential risk or emergency if they are out alone. Having access to the practice as a place for safety within the village helps vulnerable people lead independent lives and feel safe. There was a Duty GP available should a vulnerable person accessing the practice as a ‘Safe Place’ require urgent care and treatment. Although only recently awarded the practice has supported a vulnerable patient recently seeking refuge at the practice whilst experiencing an episode of panic and confusion.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice said:

“I am delighted for the John Hampden Surgery to highlight the exceptional service at their practice. People are entitled to services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care. The GPs and staff at the surgery have worked hard to demonstrate 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. I hope other  practices will see this as a model for excellent care.”

Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in CQC’s South region said:

“It is clear that the John Hampden Surgery are providing a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Buckinghamshire. There is a real focus on ensuring particular groups of patients get access to the care and information they need to prolong their quality of life.

“Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their treatment and care.

“The hard work of staff at this practice pays off in making a real difference to patients – which is why we have found this practice to be Outstanding.”

Ends

For further information please contact John Scott, CQC Regional Engagement Manager, on 07789875809. For media enquiries, journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.