Cumbria GP Practice Rated Outstanding by CQC

A GP practice serving a rural community in Cumbria has been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with inspectors praising its leadership, patient care and work to tackle health inequalities.

Alston Medical Practice provides primary care services to around 2,300 people in Alston and the surrounding area. Following an inspection in April and May, CQC rated the practice outstanding for caring and well-led and good for safe, effective and responsive services.

Inspectors found that the practice was led by a strong leadership team which had developed a culture of continuous improvement and encouraged staff to test new ideas. Employees were given the time and resources needed to develop services, while leaders worked closely with other parts of the health system, including secondary care, to improve support for patients.

Patient feedback was also overwhelmingly positive. People told inspectors that appointments were easy to arrange and described staff as kind and approachable, while patients felt doctors listened to them and understood their individual needs. CQC also found that people were involved in decisions about their care, including medication reviews, and were given information to help them manage their conditions and understand when they should seek further support.

The practice was particularly praised for connecting patients and carers with support beyond traditional GP appointments. It runs a social day unit offering activities including chair yoga, crafts and games, alongside groups for men and women and sessions for parents and babies. Inspectors highlighted this work as part of the practice’s wider efforts to support people experiencing health inequalities in the local community.

CQC also found medicines were managed appropriately, staff received training and support to maintain standards of care, and patients felt comfortable raising concerns. Representatives from the practice’s Patient Participation Group told inspectors they felt listened to by the healthcare team.

Linda Hirst, CQC deputy director of operations in the North East, said inspectors had found exceptional leadership supported by a dedicated team which placed patients at the centre of its work.

She said staff should be proud of the service they were providing, particularly their work supporting people experiencing health inequalities, and encouraged other GP practices to consider what they could learn from Alston Medical Practice.

Following the inspection, Alston Medical Practice is rated outstanding overall.

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