The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Sutton Valence Surgery in Maidstone, Kent to be Outstanding following an inspection in August 2017.
Inspectors rated the care at Sutton Valence Surgery Outstanding for being responsive to people’s needs and well-led and Good for being safe, caring and effective.
Full copy of the inspection report can be found on our website.
Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:
“I am delighted to highlight the exceptional service at Sutton Valence Surgery, people are entitled to services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care. The GPs and staff 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 the practice to be Outstanding. I hope other practices will see this service as a model for excellent care.”
Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the South Region, said:
“Sutton Valence Surgery is providing an exceptional service with high quality integrated care and treatment for travelling communities and vulnerable patients. The service is a real asset to providing and very valuable service to the vulnerable in Maidstone."
“The practice was dedicated to providing a proactive approach to understanding the needs of such vulnerable patient groups and staff delivered care in a way that meets patients’ needs and promoted equality while providing treatment with dignity and compassion."
“This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like and the team at the Sutton Valence Surgery should be very proud of what they have achieved to date.”
The report highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:
The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
The practice supported elderly patients living independently to engage in regular physical activity. The practice provided provision such as a walking for health group and a beginner cycling for health group. The practice recognised that this also helped to reduce social isolation in this population group.
There was a weekly medicines delivery round to house bound, usually elderly patients. This was carried out by a member of the PPG, or in their absence by the principal GP.
The practice had a substantial number of patients from Romani Gypsy and travelling communities. They adjusted the appointments system to make it easier for patients from those communities to access healthcare.
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I hope other practices will see this service as a model for excellent care
Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice