Suffolk GP surgery is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by The Peninsula Practice in Alderton, Woodbridge, to be Outstanding following an inspection in December.

Inspectors found the practice was providing a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led service that meets the needs of the population it serves from the Alderton Health Centre.

A full report of the inspection has now been published and is available on this website.

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

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

• The practice reviewed significant events every six months to ensure continuation of safety and shared the outcomes and learning of the events with staff and other local practices.
• A self-funded medication delivery service was provided for patients who were unable to collect them themselves.
• Staff were well supported, had stress level and morale assessments, regular appraisals and by undertaking continuous assessments of how staff felt they fitted in the organisation.
• The practice acted as a research hub in cooperation with other local practices and a Clinical Research Network nurse.
• The practice worked closely with the Orford Trust and AGE UK to offer support and advice to patients and their carers.

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

“It is clear The Peninsula Practice is providing an effective, responsive and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Suffolk.

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

“There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

“Staff also understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.

 “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.”

Ends

For further information, please contact Louise Grifferty, Regional Engagement Manager on 07717 422917.

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