Improvements made for ‘Good’ Brandon practice

A Brandon GP surgery which has ‘proactively increased its engagement with patients’ is celebrating a ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission.

Brandon Medical Practice was given a ‘requires improvement’ by the watchdog in August 2017 and improved after responding to the feedback of their patients and in the categories of safe caring, responsiveness and being well led.

Dr Emmanuel Obiabo, a GP at the practice, said: “All our staff work very hard for our patients so it’s pleasing to have that work recognised.

“We put our patients first and, despite the challenges facing the NHS, are determined to continue to do our very best to support their good health and wellbeing.”

Since the previous inspection the practice had formed a patient participation group to get feedback and improve, from this the surgery had started to open one Saturday morning each month, the report said.

It also commented that the group had taken part in two patient surveys with 99 percent of patients surveyed saying that they felt listened to during their appointment and 98 percent of them felt involved with the care and treatment they received.

The practice is a member of the Suffolk Primary Care (SPC) partnership, which was formed in April 2017, and is a collaboration of 11 GP practices including Combs Ford Surgery and Stowhealth in Stowmarket.

Dr Nick Rayner, SPC executive chairman, said: “Since we formed last year we have been introducing changes at all our member practices – finding ways to improve services and share best practice so that our patients receive the best possible care.

“It’s great to see that these changes are having a positive effect and we’re delighted that the hard work of everyone involved at Brandon Medical Practice has been recognised by the CQC.”

More than 5,500 patients use the High Street practice and the report said the staff treated its patients with ‘kindness, respect and compassion’ and said the quality of care given to specific population groups including older people, those with poor mental health and young people had improved.

The report also highlighted the skills mix at the practice, including health practitioners, physiotherapists and an emergency care practitioner as well as co-ordinated packages of care for end of life patients and those with long term conditions.