Prudhoe Medical Group is rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Prudhoe Medical Group in Prudhoe, Northumberland to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in October 2014.

Inspectors found that the practice was providing an innovative, caring, effective, responsive and well-led service that meets the needs of the population it serves.

A full report of the inspection has been published today: www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-199688478

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 Prudhoe Medical Group highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

Individual care plans had been developed for 160 patients and a screening programme to detect early signs of dementia had been in place for two years.

The practice used computerised tools to specifically identify those patients with complex needs so that staff could ensure their needs were appropriately met.

Inspectors saw excellent examples of close working partnerships with other health and social care professionals, which included multidisciplinary team meetings twice a month to discuss the needs of high risk patients, for example those with end of life care needs.

The practice proactively reached out to the local community. For example GPs working at the practice, in partnership with the practice’s Patient Participation Group, had held awareness raising events for the public to highlight the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

There was an open culture within the practice and staff were actively encouraged to raise concerns and suggestions for improvement. There was a strong working ethic of collaboration and support across the staff team as a whole and a common focus on improving outcomes for patients.

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

“It is clear that Prudhoe Medical Group is providing an effective and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of the North East.

“Feedback from patients was overwhelmingly positive and many commented that staff went above and beyond their level of duty.

“We found that the practice displayed an excellent understanding of the differing needs of their patients and acted on these needs in the planning and delivery of its services.

“Staff demonstrated a commitment to help support patients to live healthier lives and drive continuous improvements in the outcomes for patients.

“All of this hard work pays off in making a real difference for their patients – which is why we have found this practice to be Outstanding.”