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Innovative practices win inspector praise

NewsThe vast majority of practices have achieved high ratings from Care Quality Commission inspectors, according to an analysis published today.

The CQC figures show that so far 2% of practices have been rated inadequate and another 8% told they need improvement.

The analysis shows the results of inspections of all 7,500 practices in England and some reinspections of struggling practices.

Before reinspections took place – alongside some practice closures, about 4% of practices were inadequate and 13% needed improvement.

The CQC praised general practice for “driving change and embracing innovation.”

It said the ratings achieved by general practice were higher than those awarded to any other health sector.

General practice chief inspector Professor Steve Field said that the government agreed programme of the GP Forward View needed to continue, warning “otherwise improvements in the quality of care will come to a standstill.”

He said: “Where we identified concerns, most practices have taken action and improved. GPs, practice managers and other primary care staff should be commended for their efforts.

“The challenge is for this focus on quality to be maintained and for general practice to be supported in continuing to give patients this same high standard of care in future while embracing and driving the changes elsewhere in the system. The pressures on GPs are very real but we have found many practices are already delivering care in new and innovative ways to benefit their patients and the wider community.”

Charlotte Paddison, from the Nuffield Trust, said: “The report suggests urban areas tended to do worse on inspection, with 17% of practices in London rated inadequate or requiring improvement.

“We know that deprived urban areas tend to have a disproportionate number of GPs nearing retirement age, and fewer GPs per head. Addressing staffing issues needs to be a priority to support quality of care for the future.”

The findings were welcomed by GP leaders.

British Medical Association GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey called for support for struggling practices.

He said: “These positive results are undoubtedly down to the hard work of GPs and practice staff, but many are in an environment where they are increasingly struggling to deliver effective care to their local communities.”

Royal College of GPs vice-chair Professor Martin Marshall said: “The fact that GPs are rising to the challenge in the face of ever-increasing demand, does not make it sustainable – we urgently need more investment in general practice, and thousands more GPs, as pledged in NHS England’s GP Forward View.”

He added: “There is still a long way to go to cut down the bureaucracy and move towards a more proportionate regulatory process for general practice. But family doctors should take heart from this report that their hard work has been acknowledged, and patients across the country should be reassured that when they visit their GP, in the vast majority of cases, they will receive good, safe care.”

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