THERE were celebrations in Bradford on Avon this week as the town’s health partnership was awarded an outstanding rating following a Care Quality Commission inspection.

In August, inspectors rated the Bradford on Avon and Melksham Health Partnership, in Station Approach, the top mark for being effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led, as well as rated good for its safety.

This result puts the partnership in the top three per cent of practices in England.

“We are delighted to have achieved an outstanding rating from the CQC,” said the health partnership’s senior partner, Dr Nigel Gough.

“This has been achieved as a result of a fantastic team effort across our practices in Bradford on Avon, Winsley and St Damien’s surgery in Melksham.

“Years of enthusiasm and dedicated hard work from our management, doctors, nurses, administration and reception staff have been recognised by this award.”

The report highlighted a number of areas of outstanding practice, including innovative approaches of care to support people such as The Leg Club, a memory cafe and a social hub.

In addition, the practice had three dementia champions and 80 per cent of its staff are now dementia friends.

“We have been wonderfully supported by volunteers in our patient participation group and Leg Club committee,” added Dr Gough.

“Despite severe financial restraints and huge demands in the current NHS, we have managed to show innovation and commitment to extend the services for our patients.

“Only last week we put on a well-attended health fair in St Margaret’s Hall in Bradford on Avon.

“We struggle with inadequate space in both our Bradford and Melksham surgeries and our hope is that this rating may stimulate NHS England to support our plans for premises extension so that we can continue to take part in exciting projects in the future.”

They were also commended for offering a seven-day nurse and educational support for local nursing and care homes and access to wound care at the weekends in the local community.

The Transforming Care for Older People Team work programme improved IT, communication and reduced hospital admissions.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, added: “All of this hard work and dedication pays off in making a real difference for their patients – which is why we have found this practice to be outstanding. I hope other practices will see this as a model for excellent care.”