Small practices are celebrating the success of a single-handed GP in gaining an outstanding rating from inspectors – as moves to create super-practices get under way.

The Family Doctors Association say that the achievement, by a practice in Doncaster, Yorkshire, shows that small practices can offer good quality care.

The GP Dr Mushkoor Sheikh runs a training practice where staff send cards to patients celebrating key birthdays and to patients who are seriously ill in hospital.

According to the inspectors, staff also keep an eye out for patients who regularly walk around the block – making contact if they were not seen for a few days.

Dr Sheikh employs a male locum GP and has a second year foundation doctor in the practice together with a medical student, a healthcare assistant and two practice nurses, caring for nearly 2,000 patients.

Association vice-chair Dr Claire Rushton said: “It just goes to show that small is beautiful.”

“This is significant as it busts the myth that Quality and Innovation are the preserve of the larger units. And all this without significant investment into primary care.”