The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by a Whitehaven GP practice to be Good following an inspection carried out earlier this year.
CQC undertook a comprehensive inspection of the Lowther Medical Centre, Whitehaven in March 2016. This was to check that the practice had taken sufficient action to address a number of significant shortfalls inspectors had identified during a previous CQC inspection in August 2015.
The key findings from the most recent inspection were as follows:
The practice had taken action to address the concerns raised at the comprehensive CQC inspection in August 2015. The practice had developed a clear vision, strategy and plan to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients. Inspectors could clearly see there was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs; in addition information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
The full report of the inspection has been published on the CQC website.
Sue McMillan, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North, said:
"It is clear that the Lowther Medical Practice has made a significant number of improvements since our original inspection. For example, at re-inspection we were satisfied that there were effective processes and systems in place to support patient safety including the dissemination of safety alerts to staff who worked within the practice, reporting of significant events and learning from them.
"With the support of NHS England and the local Clinical Commissioning Group, the practice has been able to make improvements, and is now providing a safe and clinically effective service.
"The practice is now providing a safe, caring, well-led and effective service. I am pleased to announce that Lowther Medical Practice is now rated as Good and I congratulate them on the progress that they have made.”
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For further information please contact CQC Regional Communications Officer Kerri James by email kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or by phone on 07464 92 9966.
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