A WINCHESTER doctors’ surgery received a ‘Good’ rating in its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report – with four categories being deemed ‘Outstanding’.

A report on The Friarsgate Practice in Weeke, which serves nearly 25,000 patients, was published on December 20.

Inspectors did not grade any categories lower than ‘Good’, and services for people with long term conditions, for families, children and young people, and for older people were marked ‘Outstanding’. The responsiveness of the surgery was also given top marks.

The report said: “Patients could access the right care at the right time. The practice had proactively introduced new systems, processes and types of appointment to ensure access to care took account of patients individual needs including those with urgent clinical needs as well as routine needs.

“By appointing a MSK clinician the Friarsgate has responded to the increasing demand for musculoskeletal care and treatment. By recruiting a paramedic Friarsgate was able to provide vulnerable patients with a quick response with the aim of reducing avoidable admissions.”

Hoping not to “rest on success”, the surgery now offers social prescribing every Wednesday for anyone aged over 18.

Practice manager Marc Dryden said: “All these measures have helped Friarsgate buck the national trend with routine access consistently at three to four days compared to the national headlines at three to four weeks.

“The CQC report is welcomed recognition of our significant efforts to improve patient care and embrace all the new opportunities to expand a multi-disciplinary team.”