Staffordshire GP surgery is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Audley Health Centre, in Audley, Staffordshire to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in January 2015.

Inspectors found that the practice was providing an innovative, 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.

The report on Audley Health Centre highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• The quality and range of care provided was high. The practice offered a comprehensive range of services in-house; such as diagnostic tests for skin conditions and assessment of cardiovascular function that patients received at the practice.
• The practice had lower than local and national rates for emergency admissions, contact with accident and emergency departments and out-of-hours services. Patients told inspectors the practice offered the services and continuity they wanted. This was reflected in higher than average patient survey results.
• The practice was inclusive and cared for a number of patients who previously displayed challenging behaviour and had developed positive relationships with them to address their behaviour.
• Leadership at the practice was reflective, strong and decisive and the practice team wished to improve their services and the experience of patients.

Janet Williamson, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice and Dentistry in CQC’s Central region said:

“It is clear Audley Health Centre is providing an effective, responsive and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Staffordshire.

“Feedback from patients and clinical teams was excellent and staff went above and beyond their level of duty to care for patients. The practice also had a positive working atmosphere and was committed to continuing to improve services for its patients.

“We found that the practice displayed an excellent understanding of the differing needs of their patients and staff demonstrated a commitment to help and support them.

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

Ends

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