A Tower Hamlets medical centre has been given CQC’s top rating – Outstanding overall.
St Paul’s Way Medical Centre was rated Outstanding for being well-led and effective. It was rated Good for being safe, caring and responsive following the inspection which took place in October 2017.
CQC inspectors found that the practice had a clear vision which had quality and safety as its top priority.
It had developed a practice Health Champions programme which commenced in 2016 and aimed to benefit all patients. Health Champions were usually patients trained by the practice who then volunteer to support other patients to increase control over and improve the patients’ understanding of their health as well as the services at the practice.
Over 250 patients had benefitted from the service. The practice offered a seven week training course and had trained 56 Health Champions of which 27 had attained a level 2 qualification in Understanding Health Improvement.
Once trained the patient Health Champion would: run a weekly stall in the waiting room area, support the practice in planning / running events, collect feedback from patients, signpost patients to local services and assist patients generally.
The practice had strong, visible clinical and managerial leadership and governance arrangements and used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes, working with four other practices and local providers to share best practice and develop integrated care.
The centre helped to promote and manage many population specific services and health education events targeted at young mums, young adults and ethnic minority groups.
It encouraged social prescribing and acted as a hub to various support groups, for example, helping patients with depression, promoting recognition and management of minor ailments to young and new patients. These services improved patient self-management which in turn helped reduce waiting times and improve access to healthcare.
The practice had good new modern facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. This included an area in reception where patients could self- monitor their height, weight and blood pressure.
The practice was accredited as a ‘YOU’RE WELCOME’ pilot site. ‘YOU’RE WELCOME’ provides a framework for delivering and planning young people’s health services and through participation, that young people will have a greater understanding of the services available. It aims to help practices improve access to health services for marginalised groups.
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices, said:
“This is an excellent example of a modern practice which is well-equipped and well-led and really engaging with its patients and providing quality care."
“This is only the 15th practice in London we’ve rated as Outstanding.Tower Hamlets is an area with high levels of deprivation which I think makes this achievement even more impressive."
“St Paul’s Way Medical Centre has worked to improved patient self-management which has helped reduce waiting times and improve access to healthcare. It is an innovative and caring practice.”
You can read the report in full on our website.
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This is an excellent example of a modern practice
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices