The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by The Pinn Medical Centre in Harrow, north London, to be Outstanding overall – after an inspection in July.
Inspectors found the practice was Outstanding for being Responsive and Well-led. It was rated as Good for being Safe, Effective and Caring.
The Pinn Medical Centre has a patient population of 20,000 living in the London Borough of Harrow. The centre is an accredited training practice for medical students with two GP registrars in training. Two of the GP partners are approved trainers.
The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the Patient Participation Group (PPG). For example, the practice had introduced a flexible appointment system and diabetes clinics.
The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. It actively reviewed complaints and how they are managed and responded to, and made improvements as a result.
It had a clear vision which had quality and safety as its top priority. The strategy to deliver this vision had been produced with stakeholders and was regularly reviewed and discussed with staff.
A full report of the inspection has now been published and is available on CQC’s website: http://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-199721373
Michele Golden, Head of General Practice in CQC’s London region said: “We saw several areas of outstanding practice. The practice was effective in managing patients’ conditions locally, and with the support of hospital consultants.
“It had the capacity to deliver unlimited telephone consultations to support patients with minor ailments. It had a very engaged PPG which influenced practice development which allowed the practice to set up a volunteer driver service comprising of 25 drivers who supported 60 patients with mobility issues including support with shopping and a befriending service. In collaboration with the PPG, the practice held information talks and organised patient education events.
“Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive. The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the patient participation group. For example, the practice had introduced a flexible appointment system and diabetes clinics.”