Are these the top 5 GP surgeries in North Staffs?
GP surgeries have been feeling the pressure in the past couple of years and many patients have found it difficult to make appointments or see their doctor face-to-face. The Care Quality Commission inspects GP surgeries and rates them according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led. They are given a rating for each area – outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate – and an overall rating. The CQC website shows 88 results for ‘GP services’ within a 10-mile radius of Hanley – and just five have received an ‘outstanding’ rating, which means they are ‘performing exceptionally well’. None of them have been inspected since 2019 – but here Hannah Hiles rounds up the five ‘outstanding’ practices in our area
WOLSTANTON MEDICAL CENTRE Palmerston Street, Wolstanton
Most recent inspection date:
June 1, 2016
Safe: good
Effective: outstanding
Caring: good
Responsive: good
Well-led: outstanding
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS:
“We saw three areas of outstanding practice. The practice went beyond the scope of normal support and development of their staff.
“Patients over 75 years old were provided with a questionnaire to identify any medical or social needs. 779 questionnaires had been sent out to patients of which 701 were returned
“Of these, 221 patients had identified needs and were assessed by the complex needs nurse and appropriate care and referrals were made to support these patients. The practice was not only proactive in managing, monitoring and improving outcomes for its own patients but it shared its learning within primary care.”
HONEYWALL MEDICAL PRACTICE Stoke Health Centre, Honeywall Most recent inspection date:
January 26, 2016
Safe: good
Effective: outstanding
Caring: outstanding
Responsive: good
Well-led: good
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS:
“Feedback from patients about their care was consistently and strongly positive. The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand.
“Staff were knowledgeable, engaged and took pride in the services provided. Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
“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.”
AUDLEY HEALTH CENTRE Church Street, Audley Most recent inspection date:
October 23, 2019
Safe: good
Effective: outstanding
Caring: good
Responsive: outstanding
Well-led: outstanding
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS:
“The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm. Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
“Services had been tailored to meet the needs of the different population groups. Nine of the 10 quality indicators used to monitor the effectiveness of the care and treatment provided to patients were above the national average.
“There was a strong culture of collaboration with other services within the practice to improve the effectiveness of care and treatment provided to patients. Staff were supported to develop their roles and influence changes in primary care locally and nationally.”
BRINSLEY AVENUE PRACTICE Brinsley Avenue, Trentham Most recent inspection date:
September 19, 2019
Safe: outstanding
Effective: outstanding
Caring: outstanding
Responsive: outstanding
Well-led: outstanding
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS:
“Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive. The practice had strong and visible clinical and managerial leadership and governance arrangements.
“The needs of patients had been identified and measures had been put in place to bridge gaps. For example, the practice ran a voluntary befriending group for those who were socially isolated.
“Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.”
Most recent inspection date:
February 28, 2018
Safe: good
Effective: outstanding
Caring: outstanding
Responsive: outstanding
Well-led: good
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS:
“We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Madeley Practice on November 1, 2017. The overall rating for the practice was good, good for providing a well-led service and outstanding for providing an effective, caring and responsive service.
“However, it was rated requires improvement for providing safe services.
“These arrangements had significantly improved when we undertook a follow up inspection on February 28, 2018. The practice is now rated as good for providing safe services.”