PATIENTS say they are treated with compassion, dignity and respect at Alderley Edge Medical Practice.

The praise from patients was one of the findings from an inspection of the Talbot Road practice at the end of September.

The announced inspection was carried out by the Care Quality Commission, and rated the practice as good in all respects.

Alderley Edge Medical Centre provides primary care services to about 8,050 patients, nine per cent of who are aged over 75.

The team includes six partner GPs, three practice nurses, a health care assistant, two phlebotomists, a practice manager and administration and reception staff.

The inspection looked at whether services at the practice were safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well led.

“There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety - for example, equipment and premises checks were carried out and there were systems to prevent the spread of infection,” said Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, in his report on the inspection.

“Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses.

“Staff were aware of procedures for safeguarding patients from the risk of abuse. Patients’ needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.

“Staff felt supported and they had access to training and development opportunities appropriate to their roles.

“Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect, and we saw staff treated patients with kindness and respect.

“Services were planned and delivered to take into account the needs of patient groups.

“There was a system in place to manage complaints. There were systems in place to monitor and improve quality and identify risk.”

Areas where the report says improvements should be made are as follows.

To review the system to broaden the scope of issues considered to be a significant event to ensure this is effective.

To monitor recruitment records to ensure all the required information is obtained.

Checks of cleaning standards should take place at the branch practice.

To review the system to monitor which prescriber the printable prescriptions are distributed to.