THE Weaver Vale Surgery has achieved a ‘Good’ rating by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection following up from their previous, lower mark which indicated that the practice ‘requires improvement’.

The surgery was previously inspected in June 2015, and it was found that progress was necessary in areas concerning safety and practice leadership.

The CQC recorded in 2015 that complaints were not always followed through with corrective action, and that there were gaps in the leadership team which ‘hindered the practice’s daily working relationships’.

The inspector suggested that the practice improve recruitment checks to all staff and apply ‘proportionate action’ to any recorded criticisms, further advising that the team improve upon engagement with the patient participant group.

The results of the follow up inspection on April 4, 2017 reveal that the surgery has improved in these areas.

After speaking with a range of employees as well as patients, the team of an inspector and a GP specialist advisor recorded that the appropriate recruitment checks were now being undertaken.

In addition, the practice manager had a clear record of the regular revalidation of staff with the relevant government bodies, required every few years to make sure staff are still appropriately qualified.

There was also marked development in terms of leadership, especially when it came to the handling of complaints. The inspector stated in the report: “learning gained from the investigation of events was used to drive improvements.”

Linda Donegan, practice manager at the surgery, said: “Following the inspection, I think the whole team experienced a huge sense of relief that it was over, and having now received the result of Good, from a previous rating of Requires Improvement, we all feel immensely proud of the practice and our team, which includes the members of the Practice Participation Group who contributed on the day of the inspection, and the patients who completed the CQC comment cards.

“The rating is something that we are proud of and is recognition of the hard work that goes into running General Practice.”