IT’S been a wonderful start to 2016 for the team at Bow Medical Practice after securing an ‘outstanding’ rating in their latest Care Quality Commission report, while also receiving a ‘good’ rating for their service at North Tawton Medical Practice, just a year after saving it from closure.

In its report published today, Bow Medical Practice has been rated outstanding in four of the five areas graded by the CQC — effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership. It was rated good for safety.

Just a year after it was saved from closure by the team at Bow, North Tawton Medical Practice has received a ‘good’ rating in its own CQC report published last week.

The practice was rated good in all five areas. The ratings of the practice’s specific services, including older people, vulnerable people, people with long term conditions and families, children and young people were also all rated as good.

Managing partner for both Bow and North Tawton practices Michelle Freeburn said: ‘There are very few outstanding practices — only 3% of practices inspected are currently rated as outstanding — so we are very very proud of what we have achieved at Bow Medical Practice. To get four out of five areas rated as outstanding is quite significant. Some practices get two or three so to get four is something we are very proud of. We are absolutely delighted overall. It is testimony to the professionalism and dedication of the whole practice team.

‘As for North Tawton, we started running it last April, and to achieve good in every single area is something we are really happy with. We were not sure how things would be when we took over and there was considerable building work to be done to make the practice fit for purpose, so we are really pleased with the result.

‘We hope the outcome demonstrates the commitment to the North Tawton community that we have and the report demonstrates the areas we have improved since we took over at North Tawton. It is another report we are very pleased with.’

In their summary of the Bow practice, CQC inspectors said they saw several areas of outstanding practice. They said: ‘The practice has a strong vision, which puts quality, effective care and treatment as its top priority. The partnership is structured with distinct roles and responsibilities, utilizing the experience and skills of partners to the full. As a result, all business and clinical matters are delivered effectively at the practice.

‘The practice provides truly holistic patient centered care. Many examples were seen demonstrating that patients were treated with dignity and received compassionate care. Carers and patients verified that GPs went above and beyond what was expected of them, for example providing 24/7 telephone access and support for vulnerable patients receiving end of life care.

‘The management of the quality and health outcomes for patients at the practice is based on a comprehensive and responsive approach to local need. A proactive approach towards self-management and health is delivered in partnership with the patient participation group.

‘The leadership at the practice inspired a shared purpose, which was aimed at providing patient services closer to home. A GP held qualifications enabling them to provide acupuncture to patients for pain relief. Another GP was supervising a community healthcare worker with a post graduate qualification so that they would be able to provide additional treatments, such as steroid injections, which would normally be carried out at the hospital.’

The good rating for the North Tawton Medical Practice has also proven particularly positive following its near closure last year. The practice was saved after Bow Medical Practice signed a contract with NHS England to run the surgery from the beginning of April 2015. The service operates from the existing premises and offers the same services offered previously. The team at Bow stepped in after Wallingbrook Health Group, which previously ran the practice at Devonshire House, announced it would cease providing care at North Tawton last March.

In their summary of North Tawton Medical Practice, inspectors said: ‘Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence-based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment. Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

‘Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care. The practice premises had recently been upgraded significantly to provide safe facilities and were well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

‘High standards were promoted and owned by all practice staff. The teams at North Tawton and Bow medical practices worked closely together across all roles.

‘Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.’