A PRUDHOE doctors’ surgery has retained its ‘good’ rating following a recent inspection by a healthcare watchdog.

Adderlane Surgery, on Adderlane Road in Prudhoe, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on October 10 this year.

The surgery, which deals with 2,006 patients of all ages, was judged on whether it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

A report released following the inspection reveals that the surgery was rated as ‘good’, after also receiving a good rating in its last inspection in 2014.

Inspectors found that the surgery was ‘good’ in four out of the five categories, while it was deemed to require improvement on safety.

Although the report said there was an effective internal system for reporting significant events and for staff to report incidents, it was noted that neither a comprehensive infection control audit nor a health and safety risk assessment had been carried out.

The practice was advised to introduce a structured approach to reviewing clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

However, the inspectors said that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

They said the practice had a clear vision to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients.

Inspectors also said they saw one area of outstanding practice on their visit, relating to the surgery’s feedback from patients.

The results of the NHS National GP Patient Survey, published in July 2017, placed the practice in the top 10 best performing surgeries in the North-East and in the top 110 surgeries nationally.

The report reads: “Feedback about the way staff treated patients was very positive.

“Patients were very complimentary about the care and treatment clinical staff provided, and said they felt listened to and involved in their care.

“They also told us the practice was clean and hygienic.”