MORETONHAMPSTEAD Health Centre has been rated as good in a Care Quality Commission report.

The CQC has published 65 reports on the quality of care provided by GP practices that have been inspected under its new approach. Moretonhampstead was one of the 58 practices rated as good.

Moretonhampstead received a good rating in every single inspection category, including services for older people, families and those with long term conditions.

In their summary, inspectors said: 'The practice was well led and responded to patient need and feedback. Innovative and proactive methods were used to improve patient outcomes, even where no financial incentives or contractual agreements were expected.

'Patients reported having good access to appointments at the practice and liked having a named GP which, they told us, improved their continuity of care. The practice was clean, well-organised, had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients. There were effective infection control procedures in place.

'Feedback from patients about their care and treatment was consistently positive. We observed a non-discriminatory, person centred culture. Staff told us they felt motivated and inspired to offer kind and compassionate care and worked to overcome obstacles to achieving this. Views of external stakeholders were very positive and aligned with our findings.'

The report listed that the practice could improve by checking its emergency equipment for expiry dates and that it should check the suitability of locum staff working at the practice.

Under CQC's new inspection programme, all England's GP practices are being rated according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. 

Professor Steve Field, chief inspector of general practice, said: 'We know that the vast majority of England's GPs are providing a service which is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. If that is what we find on inspection — we give it a rating of good and I congratulate the GPs and staff in these practices.

'Patients should be able to expect high quality and consistent care from every GP practice. Where we have required improvement, we will expect the practice to take the necessary steps to address the issue and we will return at a later date to check that those improvements have been made.'