Exeter GP practice rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by the Cheriton Bishop and Teign Valley Practice to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in July 2015.

Inspectors found that the practice was providing a safe, effective and well-led service that was particularly caring and responsive to the needs of the local community.

Cheriton Bishop and Teign Valley Practice provides a primary medical service to patients living in and around Exeter, in Devon.

A full report of the inspection has been published today.

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

CQC found that services were tailored to meet the needs of patients and were delivered in order to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care, resulting in lower Accident and Emergency department attendance rates at local hospitals.

The practice received excellent survey results, with patients saying that staff went the extra mile and that the care they received exceeded their expectations. Inspectors saw that this was reflected in the practice track record of performance above the national average for patient care and treatment.

The practice reached out to the community and worked in partnership with a local charitable community support service (ACORN). The practice offered office space and resources, in order to help the charity provide transport and prescription delivery within rural areas, and services such as lunch clubs, coffee mornings and supermarket trips to reduce social isolation.

CQC found that practice staff fully understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, report incidents and near misses, and that all opportunities for staff to learn from internal and external incidents were fully utilised.

Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:

“We have found that the Cheriton Bishop and Teign Valley Practice is providing an Outstanding service, particularly for people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

“We were particularly impressed with the practice’s work to support the local community by offering resources for charities to provide transport and prescription delivery for patients within rural areas, as well activities to help reduce social isolation.

“The practice had a clear vision with quality and safety listed as top priorities, and regular review and discussion of the business plan with their staff members. This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like.”

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:

“I am delighted to highlight the exceptional standard of care which is being provided by Cheriton Bishop and Teign Valley Practice.  

“Patients we met told us how much they valued the relationship and mutual respect between them and the GPs and nurses. Patients also told us practice staff went the extra mile and that the care they received exceeded their expectations.

“We saw that this was reflected in the excellent survey results the practice regularly received, and consistent performance above the national average for patient care and treatment.

“The GPs and all their staff deserve the credit for this Outstanding service.”

Ends

For further information please contact Yetunde Akintewe, CQC Regional Engagement Manager, on 07471 020 659. For media enquiries, journalists wishing to speak to the press office can find out how to contact the team here. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.