Stockport GP practice gets top rating – again!

One of Stockport’s most innovative doctor’s surgeries has been rated as “Outstanding” for a second time by the national body tasked with monitoring GP services.

Marple Cottage Surgery was awarded top billing again following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Nationally, only a small percentage of practices attain this rating and even fewer achieve it in consecutive inspections. The previous CQC inspection was two years ago.

The regulator looks at 5 different areas – whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led – and rates them in one of four categories.

The practice is also graded in the same way on the services they offer to six specific population groups, for example patients with long-term conditions or children and families.

In 10 out of the 11 factors, the practice was assessed as being “outstanding” and in the final one they rated as “good” giving them as overall outstanding performance.

Significantly they are the first practice in the North of England to improve the ratings on the individual factors.

Inspectors found the whole practice fostered a culture of ‘can do’ with patient care and satisfaction central to everything it did. They were also highly praised for listening and acting on patient suggestions for improvements.

As a result of their commitment to high quality care, 9 out of every 10 patients at the practice would recommend it to friends and family.

The practice was also praised for its trailblazing attitude. For example, it is one of just a small number practices nationally that use video consultations so patient and doctor can see each other remotely.

Patients can also email doctors within the practice with any health concerns or questions. GPs aim to respond to patients within 24 hours.

Professor Steve Field, the CQC’s Chief Inspector of GPs, on a visit to the practice said: “I cannot praise this practice too highly. It clearly benefits from strong leadership who have a vision and strategy to deliver patient-centred care.

“All of the staff at should be very proud of the service they provide. Other practices should look to them as an example of how to provide great high quality care.”

Marple Cottage Practice Manager Johan Taylor added ““I am so proud of the practice team as they work incredibly hard to provide the best service and care for our patients. We are passionate about developing General Practice and will continue to work with our patients to improve.”