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

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Littlewick Medical Centre in Ilkeston, Derby, to be Outstanding following an inspection in February.

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

A full report of the inspection has now been published.

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 Littlewick Medical Centre highlights a number of areas of outstanding practice, including:

• The practice had designed and delivered a wide range of services and groups to promote the health and wellbeing of patients within the wider community to reduce social isolation. These groups included craft, knitting and bingo groups which were all held at the practice on a regular basis. Additionally, groups and services were offered by the practice to promote healthier living. These included a falls prevention class and weekly walking groups.
• The practice had won a national award from the BMJ as Primary Care Team of the Year for work on an outreach project targeted at the vulnerable elderly. This involved work with social care and energy providers and focused on ensuring that patients were living in healthy environments.
• Strong links had been developed with the local community and the practice involved people in the practice to promote health and wellbeing. For example, the practice was working with their local MP to support a jobs and health fair. In addition the practice had delivered informational talks to local schools. The practice director also sat on the advisory board for the local children’s’ centres.

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

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

“Staff had a wide range of skills and knowledge which they used to deliver effective care and treatment.

“The practice used proactive methods to improve patient outcomes. For example, the practice ran dedicated child sessions alongside their immunisation clinics which enabled parents to interact whilst children could play and use other services such as infant weighing.

“Staff demonstrated a passion to engage with their patients and the wider community to promote health and wellbeing in addition to reducing social isolation.

“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 Regional Engagement Officer, Helen Gildersleeve on 0191 233 3379.

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