West Rainton Surgery near Durham received the upgraded rating after an inspection carried out by the CQC between October 13 and 16.
The inspection was carried out as part of CQC’s continual checks on the safety and quality of healthcare services.
The surgery, which provides care to around 5,468 people, was previously rated as good. It was rated outstanding in the areas of caring, responsive and well-led, while safe and effective were rated as good.
West Rainton Surgery (Image: Supplied)
Linda Hirst, CQC’s deputy director of operations in the north, said: “When we inspected West Rainton Surgery, we found a practice that puts people at the heart of everything it does.
“Staff treated people with kindness and respect, and were exceptional at listening and understanding people’s needs, to ensure they could access care in a way that worked for them.”
The CQC highlighted the surgery’s close ties with the community and its innovative approach to supporting individuals who may face barriers to healthcare.
One example cited by the CQC was the practice’s work with the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community.
The surgery identified communication barriers and developed targeted plans to improve access, which resulted in increased health checks for members of the GRT community and the potential to reduce long-term care needs.
Ms Hirst said: “Also, it was great to see that survey results showed 88.6 per cent of people felt that they had received a positive experience when contacting their GP, well above the national average of 69.6 per cent.
“It was also reassuring that 86.6 per cent of people found it easy to contact their GP practice on the phone, compared to a national average of 52.9 per cent.
“Leaders and staff at West Rainton Surgery should be very proud of the findings of this report.
“Other GP practices should look to this report to see if there’s anything to learn from it.”
The CQC praised the surgery for placing patients at the centre of decision-making about their care and for ensuring smooth transitions between services through collaboration with partner organisations.
Leadership was also highlighted as a key strength, with leaders described as supportive of staff wellbeing and committed to enabling person-centred care.
This approach was found to empower staff and contribute to the delivery of high-quality care.
The report also noted that patients felt confident giving feedback, and believed the surgery would act on their comments to make improvements where needed.
CQC inspections are informed by feedback from patients, families, and staff, and the regulator encourages people to continue sharing their experiences to help shape future inspections.
If the CQC identifies evidence that people are at immediate risk of harm during an inspection, it has the authority to take action to protect patient safety.
The full inspection report for West Rainton Surgery will be published on the CQC’s website in the coming days.
Patients and members of the public are encouraged to give feedback about their healthcare experiences through the CQC website or by calling 03000 616161.