CQC inspectors find Huddersfield GP surgery to be Outstanding in the services provided to the local population

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Whitehouse Centre GP Practice to be Outstanding following an inspection in May this year. This is a real achievement by the practice and a fantastic resource for the people of Huddersfield to have on their doorstep.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all of England’s GP practices are being given a rating in five key areas, are they; safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. The services provided by Whitehouse Centre GP Practice have been rated as Outstanding overall.

A full report of the inspection has been published here: http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-285686119.

Alison Holbourn, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice said:

“It is clear Whitehouse Centre GP Practice is providing an effective, responsive, and well-led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Huddersfield. To get rated as Outstanding is a real achievement.

“We were particularly impressed with the practice’s dedication to improving outcomes for their patients. They worked closely with other local providers to share best practice, and regularly made changes to the services they provided based on patient feedback.

It was also impressive to see how responsive Whitehouse Centre GP Practice was to the needs of their patients. For example in anticipation of a high level of asylum seekers entering their district, they developed a standard operating procedure to make sure their needs were catered for. The practice also provided flexible appointments for patients with complex psychological or physical difficulties. This showed a real understanding of what their patients needed from them.

“This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like.”

CQC saw that Whitehouse Centre GP Practice used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes, working with other local providers to share best practice. For example, they developed effective and responsive shared care treatment pathways for patients receiving treatment for substance misuse.

The practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they met the needs of patients.

For example, in anticipation of high levels of asylum seekers entering the district, the provider had developed a standard operating procedure. This was to ensure the safe dispersal of patients into mainstream services after an annual review, with safeguards to retain patients on their patient list if they needed to.

Inspectors also saw a number of other areas of outstanding care on this visit:

• New adult patients were screened for their exposure to trauma including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on mental health. The clinical team had expertise in identifying victims of torture and had developed an assessment and treatment plan.
• Clinical meetings were held on a daily basis, ensuring that all staff were kept informed of patients’ needs, clinical decision making and operational issues that might impact on patient care. This approach encouraged the sharing of expertise and promoted a strong sense of teamwork.
• The practice ethos was underpinned by compassion that extended to providing social assistance for the homeless, such as food parcels, clothing and discretionary funding to provide taxis for those that would otherwise be unable to access services.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice said:

 “The GPs and staff at Whitehouse Centre GP Practice have demonstrated a real commitment to their patients and I am delighted to highlight the exceptional service they are providing.”