First for Wearside as GPs hailed ‘outstanding’
Staff at a Wearside medical centre are celebrating after receiving the city’s first “outstanding” rating.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has hailed the quality of care provided by Westbourne Medical Group after an inspection in August.
It was praised for putting a high value on helping people with learning disabilities to gain life skills, including CPR and emergency first-aid training.
The Houghton practice also supported young people with learning disabilities or autism to access short and long-term work opportunities within the practice.
It had also run an “Eat well and let’s be fit” scheme to tackle childhood obesity, working with schools to produce packs including information, healthy eating sticker charts, lunch bag and water bottles.
To help prevent unplanned pregnancy and to reduce the risk of sexually-transmitted disease, the practice held a confidential young person’s clinic every week.
Debbie Burnicle, deputy chief officer at NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “This first outstanding rating for a GP practice in Sunderland is good news for patients and practices.
“Westbourne Medical Group has received this rating for its high quality of care and its innovative approaches to improving patient care and we congratulate them on their efforts.
Dr Suzanne McKay and Gloria Middleton of Westbourne Medical Group said: “We are thrilled that the team’s hard work and commitment has been recognised, and that feedback from our patients has been so positive.”