The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Wolstanton Medical Centre in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire, as outstanding for the second time following an inspection in February.
Wolstanton Medical Centre, which is run by an organisation of the same name, is a GP practice which delivers NHS services to 10,966 people.
CQC re-rated the service as outstanding for how well-led it is. The rating for caring improved from good to outstanding. Safe and responsive were re-rated as good, while the rating for effective has changed from outstanding to good.
Andy Brand, CQC deputy director of operations in the West Midlands, said:
“When we visited Wolstanton Medical Centre, we found a service committed to providing person-centred care. People were kept safe and well supported by a team of well-qualified, experienced staff.
“Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. We saw them involve people in assessments of their needs in a way they could understand, enabling them to give informed consent.
“People with learning disabilities were supported by a dedicated in-house team to ensure their needs were met and reviews completed, which had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. The service also worked closely with LGBTQIA+ people to ensure they were invited to relevant national screening programmes.
“Staff took an overall holistic view in supporting people to live healthier lives, focusing on lifestyle as well as health management. With research showing how regular walking significantly improves mental and physical wellbeing by reducing stress, anxiety and social isolation, leaders had worked in collaboration with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to fund five guided walks a year.
“We found partnership working embedded into the practice’s culture. Staff collaborated with partners to share information and learning, ensuring services worked together seamlessly for people.
“In addition, the practice has been a huge support to people outside its health-related duties. During the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders recognised the profound impact the lockdowns had on people’s mental health and increased social isolation. Staff developed a community garden, creating an environment for people to sit and meet with others. The service now collaborates with a local charity for people with acquired brain injuries to maintain the garden and provide valuable rehabilitation activities for its members.
“Leaders and staff should be incredibly proud of the care they provide and the culture they’ve implemented for the benefit of people and the wider community.”
Inspectors found:
- Staff treated people with kindness and compassion, demonstrating a genuine commitment to providing people with the highest level of care.
- Leaders promoted a good learning culture and people were encouraged to raise concerns.
- Staff promoted people’s independence and helped them and their carers access advocacy and community-based services for information and advice.
- Managers investigated incidents thoroughly and learnings were shared with staff and the wider practice team to ensure improvements were made to keep people safe.
- The service made sure that all facilities and equipment met people’s needs and staff kept them clean and well-maintained.
- Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care.
- Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture, and leaders modelled the values of the practice, while supporting staff to develop in their roles and deliver person-centred care.