MANAGERS of a Middlewich GP surgery have been recognised nationally for their success in improving GP practices.

Local GP surgery provider SSP Health, which runs Waters Edge Medical Centre in Leadsmithy Street, was shortlisted in the BMJ Awards, the UK’s premier healthcare awards which reward inspirational work done in the sector.

The GP federation was a finalist in the Primary Care Team section of the awards, organised by the British Medical Journal, after making significant improvements to six GP practices in Wigan and Leigh.

Their award winning holistic approach holistic approach to health, focussing on improving the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of patients has already been implemented in Middlewich.

The federation, which runs 36 GP surgeries across the north west caring for around 150,000 patients, benefits practices by providing extra training and support, back-office efficiencies, centralised IT and enhanced services.

Patients have benefitted from a host of improvements, including longer appointments, choice of phone and online appointments, greater access to annual check-ups and enhanced health services.

The surgeries now work much more closely with care homes and organised community events and projects.

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SSP Health’s Director and GP, Dr Shikha Pitalia, said: "This is a model SSP Health has developed over 20 years and which the NHS is now encouraging via the recent concept of primary care networks.

“After we instigated the Holistic Patient Care Project, we were able to drastically improve the services we offer to these patients, making them healthier and happier.

“Being shortlisted for this prestigious award is recognition of the hard work of all our staff across these practices and the head office which supports them."

A spokesman for Waters Edge Medical Centre said: "We are so proud of our SSP Health colleagues in the spotlight at a national healthcare awards ceremony."