Wallsend GP Surgery rated as Outstanding by the CQC

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by The Village Green Surgery, in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, to be Outstanding following an inspection in March 2015.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all of England’s GP practices are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The inspection team, which included a specialist advisor with experience of practice management, rated the services provided by The Village Surgery as Outstanding overall and Outstanding for providing services to older patients, and to people with long term conditions.

A full report of the inspection has been published today.

The surgery located at The Green in Wallsend serves over 9,700 patients.

The report highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• The practice worked with local care homes to optimise the beneficial use of medicines for older people. The practice calculated that this work had resulted in a 17% decrease in medicines prescribed, with no untoward effects reported. The results of this project were reported on at the National Pharmacy Congress conference in April 2015 as an area of good practice.
• The practice directly employed a pharmacist whose support had led to improvement in outcomes for patients.
• The multi-disciplinary diabetic clinic, which supported good outcomes for patients with diabetes. Patients had access to advice from the dietician and retinal screening during the clinic and following the clinic the diabetic team met to discuss any concerns or queries.
• There was strong evidence throughout the practice that team spirit and motivation was high. Of particular note was the general feeling of ‘all of us feel valued and of equal importance’.

Sue McMillan, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North, said:

“I am delighted to highlight the exceptional standard of care which is being provided by The Village Green Surgery.

“Feedback from patients was excellent and staff made every effort to fully involve them in their care and decisions about their treatment.

There was a strong learning culture at the practice and staff were highly motivated and committed to improving quality of care.

“We were particularly impressed with the practice’s approach to adopting and championing new initiatives that would help to improve outcomes for patients.

“Staff demonstrated a sound understanding of the differing needs of their patients and reflected these needs when planning and delivering services.  This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like.”

Ends

For further information please contact Kirstin Hannaford on 0191 233 3629.

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