CQC rates Greater Manchester GP surgery as Outstanding

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Rock Healthcare Limited in Bury, Greater Manchester to be Outstanding following an inspection in May 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 GP and a practice manager as specialist advisors, rated the services provided by Rock Healthcare Limited as Outstanding overall and Outstanding for the services provided to all population groups including older people, people with long-term conditions, families, children and young people, people of working age, and those experiencing poor mental health.

A full report of the inspection has been published today.

The practice located on Derby Way, in Bury serves over 3,700 patients.

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

• The practice had increased the flexibility of access to appointments and this had resulted in a reduction of patients using the out of hours service as well as very positive patient feedback.
• The practice had an exceptional staff skill mix which included advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) who were able to see a broader range of patients than practice nurses.
• The practice had continually reached out to the local community by approaching local bail hostels and centres for the treatment of addiction and ensured anyone attending the practice would be seen by a clinician even if they were not a registered patient.

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 Rock Healthcare Limited.

“It is clear that the practice is providing a caring, effective and highly responsive service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Lancashire.

“Feedback from patients was overwhelmingly positive and we also received a number of positive testimonials from partner agencies commending the excellent working relationships they had established with Rock Healthcare.

“We were particularly impressed with the way that the practice actively engaged with commissioners of services, local authorities, other providers, patients and those close to them to support the provision of coordinated and integrated pathways of care that met patients’ needs.

“The practice had a clear vision which had quality and safety as its top priority. High standards were promoted and owned by all practice staff with evidence of team working across all roles.

“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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