The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Robin Lane Health and Wellbeing Centre, Pudsey to be Outstanding following an inspection carried out in June 2016.
Inspectors rated the practice as Outstanding for effectiveness, well-led and responsiveness, and Good for safety and caring. A full report of the inspection has been published.
Some of the highlights from the inspection included:
- Patients had access to extensive facilities and support groups, which were available at the Health and Wellbeing Centre. The practice used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes, working with other local providers to share best practice. For example, the provision of ophthalmology services and the elderly care pathway.
- Inspectors could see that patients had good access to appointments and telephone consultations, which included appointments during extended hours; early morning, evenings and on Saturdays.
CQC’s Chief Inspector of General Practice Professor Steve Field says:
“With increasing demand on A&E departments it was extremely encouraging to note that the practice, through operating a walk-in service, had reduced A&E attendance by 10%. In addition the practice was able to evidence an overall reduced demand for appointments in the usual bookable clinics by 26%.
“There was some exemplary practice being undertaken at the surgery. It had developed a Care of the Elderly pathway, aimed at those patients who were housebound, at a high risk of hospitalisation or residing in a care or nursing home. They employed a practice matron who specifically focussed on the care and support for this group of patients. As a result, the practice could evidence a 23% reduction in unplanned hospital admissions for this population group.
“The service had developed a health and wellbeing centre where patients and members of the local community could attend. Facilities included an onsite café, arts events, a variety of support groups and over 60 free volunteer-run activities. The practice offered a sexual health clinic on Thursday afternoons. In addition there was a walk-in sexual health clinic available between 8am and 4pm on Saturdays.
“The practice used and embraced new technology. For example, it had developed its own app for smartphones, allowing patients to book appointments, arrange prescriptions and send messages to clinicians. It was evident that the Wellbeing Centre was proactively engaging with its patient population and stakeholders.
“Practices across the region and indeed the country could learn from the Wellbeing Centre, for example, their ability to work difficult-to-reach-patient-groups. Through a public health campaign, the practice operated an annual Leeds wide outreach programme for those patients who were not currently registered with a GP practice. These patients were supported to register with the practice and referred to other health and social services as appropriate.
“There are many examples of how the Robin Lane Health and Wellbeing Centre, from all that I have seen and read about this practice I can say that it inspired me. It demonstrates what can be achieved with excellent leadership, vision and teamwork. I offer them my sincere congratulations. It is an exemplary practice delivering top class, patient-centred care and thoroughly deserves its rating Outstanding.”
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For media enquiries, David Fryer 07754 438750, or call the CQC press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143. For general enquiries, call 03000 61 61 61.
It is an exemplary practice delivering top class, patient-centred care.
Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice