Improvement at East Lancashire GP despite COVID-19 pandemic

Published: 20 November 2020 Page last updated: 20 November 2020
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by the Rishton and Great Harwood surgery to be Good after an inspection in October. The improvement is impressive, having happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The practice was last inspected in November 2019, where inspectors rated the practice Inadequate overall with ratings of Inadequate for providing safe and well-led services and Requires Improvement for providing effective services. The practice was placed into special measures at this time to protect people using their services.

Following the latest inspection significant improvements have been made, with the service being rated as Good in all areas – safety, caring, effectiveness, responsiveness and well-led. Overall, the Rishton and Great Harwood surgery is now rated Good.

As a result of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic a more focused inspection visit was undertaken at both the main surgery (Rishton) and the branch surgery (Great Harwood) on the 22 October.

Some of the findings from the latest inspection include:

A comprehensive quality improvement plan had been implemented and effective progress made in improving service delivery in several areas. Governance, risk management, and systems to promote safe and effective care and treatment were in place.

The practice systematically reviewed the service it provided and used opportunities provided by feedback, significant events and complaints to improve. In addition, the practice had implemented systems to ensure they provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm. This included implementing and following national and local guidelines to keep people safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

A copy of the latest report can be found here.

Victoria Watkins, Deputy Chief Inspector General Practice – North said:

“The practice has made significant progress since the last inspection and has clearly addressed many areas of concern. Inspectors were impressed with the manner staff dealt with patients - they were treated with kindness and respect. The practice had also implemented procedures to help keep people safe during the Covid 19 pandemic.

“Patients were positive about the quality of care and treatment they received and told us they could access care and treatment in a timely and safe way. The practice worked in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure patients had access to a range of health and social care services.

“The Rishton and Great Harwood surgery has made very good progress, consequently it has been taken out of special measures. Given that the service has had to deal with Covid 19 pandemic crisis, they have done a magnificent job in achieving their improved rating."

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For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Manager, David Fryer by email or by phone on 07835 373965 Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. Please note: the press office is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters.

For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.