INSPECTORS have heaped praise on a seaside town's GP surgery for its care to patients.

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Nutwood Medical Practice in Grange-over-Sands to be outstanding following an inspection in August.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all of England’s GP practices are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

The surgery, operating at The Health Centre on Kents Bank Road, serves approximately 4,700 patients.

Dr Jane Irwin, the senior partner at Nutwood Medical Practice, said: “Our practice team should be proud of the feedback from the inspectors and from our patients.

"We have worked very hard to ensure we are providing the best care for all our patients, and it is fantastic to see this recognised by the CQC.”

The practice was also praised for the way it works with carers and with other agencies such as Age UK.

Dr Dan Golding, another GP at the practice, said: “We believe working with organisations like Age UK is a vital part of modern general practice. The CQC inspectors recognised the importance we place on this sort of joint working. It gives us real encouragement as we look to raise the standard of care we provide even further.”

The report highlighted a number of areas of outstanding practice.

It said the practice had a robust system of performing clinical audits as well as monitoring and recording patient care and treatment, and the outcomes.

It also said staff worked well together and showed a strong commitment to developing better ways of supporting older patients.

Sue McMillan, deputy chief inspector of General Practice in the north, said: "We were particularly impressed with the practice’s work to develop innovative new ways of supporting older patients and people with long term conditions, as well as the commitment of all staff to continuously seek improved outcomes for local people.

"The practice was clearly well thought of by its patients. We found Nutwood Medical Practice was performing highly in patient surveys about the care and treatment it provided, and people we spoke to said they were treated with respect, dignity and compassion.

"This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like."