Grange GP practice rated among the best in the country

A team of inspectors from the Care Quality Commission have declared Cartmel Surgery, near Grange, to be providing an outstanding service to patients.

It is the third medical practice in the area to achieve the top accolade from the health watchdog this year after nearby Nutwood Surgery, at Grange Medical Centre, was also deemed outstanding in January and Norwood Medical Centre, in Barrow, earned the rating in April.

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Cartmel Surgery, in Haggs Lane, Cartmel, was found to be outstanding or good in each of the five key areas assessed by the CQC team following their visit in April.

Each of its individual services was rated as outstanding.

Patients said they were respected and valued as individuals and were involved in decisions about their own care when attending the surgery, lead by GP partners and husband and wife team Dr Simon Milligan and Dr Heather Lovatt.

Practice manager Janice Longmire said: "We are all absolutely delighted.

"Everyone works incredibly hard to always put the patients first, their care is at the centre of everything we do, so it's wonderful that this has been recognised by the inspectors."

The inspection team were particularly impressed that people who were cared for were given a hospital passport - containing helpful information for doctors and nurses should they be admitted to hospital in an emergency - and that a Treat Teddy project at Cartmel Primary School had been launched to help teach children about common conditions and treatments.

Sue McMillan, deputy chief inspector of general practice in the north, said: "This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like.

"It is clear Dr Milligan and Dr Lovatt are providing a caring and responsive service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Cumbria."