Staffordshire medical centre is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Wolstanton Medical Centre, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, to be Outstanding following an inspection in June.

Inspectors found the practice was providing a safe, effective, caring, 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 programme of inspections, all England’s GP practices are given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The report on Wolstanton Medical Centre highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• The practice went beyond the scope of normal support and development of their staff. For example, three GPs had been supported to study for a Doctor of Philosophy (a doctorate degree awarded by universities) and an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) had been supported by the practice to take on leadership roles within and outside of the practice.
• Patients over 75 years old were provided with a questionnaire to identify any medical or social needs. Of these, 221 patients had identified needs and were consequently assessed by the complex needs nurse. Appropriate care and referrals were made to support these patients.
• The practice was not only proactive in managing, monitoring and improving outcomes for its own patients but it shared learning locally and nationally within primary care. It did this by contributing to reports to the CCG. For example; the benefits to the health economy through the use of tap water, rather than sterile water in the cleansing of non-surgical wounds.
• The service had also published its own research in recognised medical journals, for example, the diagnosis of Addison’s disease (a rare, chronic disorder in which insufficient steroid hormones are produced).

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

“It is clear Wolstanton Medical Centre is providing a caring, responsive and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Staffordshire.

“The practice used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes and worked with other local providers to share best practice.

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

“The practice had a clear vision with quality and compassion as its top priority. The strategy to deliver this vision had been produced with stakeholders and was regularly reviewed. High standards were promoted and owned by all practice staff and teams worked together across all roles.

“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.”

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For further information, please contact Regional Engagement Officer, Helen Gildersleeve, on 0191 233 3379.

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