James Sunderland comments on the Sandhurst Group Practice CQC Report ‘Good’ rating:
“I was delighted to learn that Sandhurst Group Practice was recently awarded an overall grading of ‘Good’ in its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) Report. This bears testimony to the significant hard work conducted by Frimley Integrated Care Services (ICS), Bracknell Forest Council, the partners and NHS planners in rectifying all the observations from the previous CQC Report of 2022. It is a particular achievement too as it is rare to see a ‘2 step’ improvement (from inadequate to good) and it shows the dedication involved. The Sandhurst Group Practice - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
“As announced in June 2023, I was also pleased to see the announcement of the merger between Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice which took effect on 1st July 2023. This will provide new energy and improved governance for both Sandhurst and Owlsmoor practices and I am confident that all patients will see noticeable changes and additional resources before long. As your MP, I was pleased to be involved in planning for this new governance and I wish to extend my humble thanks once again to all the partners, stakeholders and fantastic NHS staff, who continue to do such a great job.”
Monday, 3rd July, 2023
Bracknell GP practice boosted by ‘Good’ rating in final assessment before merger
A Bracknell GP practice achieved a dramatic turnaround in its fortunes by gaining a ‘Good’ rating from the national regulator, just days before merging with a neighbouring practice.
Sandhurst Group Practice was rated Inadequate and put in special measures towards the end of 2022. However, the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection report published on 27th June reflected the huge efforts by the GP partners, practice staff, external experts and local NHS and achieved an overall “good rating”.
The ‘Good’ news was a fitting end to a chapter in the life of the practice. On Saturday, 1st July, Sandhurst merged with Ringmead Medical Practice to become part of Ringmead Medical Group, in a move aimed at strengthening and improving local GP services for the patients of both former practices.
Dr Anita Vakil, a former GP partner at Sandhurst Group Practice and now a GP with the new Ringmead Medical Group, said: “Everyone from the former Sandhurst Group Practice is delighted to have been given an overall rating of Good.
“We’ve been through a very difficult time and a lot of people have worked extremely hard and we want to acknowledge that hard work and dedication of our staff and the support of our external partners and NHS colleagues in this fantastic achievement.
“Last week’s news helped us to go into the merger in a much stronger and more positive position, which can only be good news for us and for our patients.”
Throughout the transformation the practice has been supported by primary care experts Health Integration Partners (HiP), as well as NHS Frimley – the local health service commissioners.
Nicola Airey is Director of Commissioning and Assurance and Place Convenor for Bracknell Forest at NHS Frimley. She said: “To see such a turnaround in a practice in a relatively short space of time is really remarkable. On behalf of NHS Frimley I want to thank everyone from the former Sandhurst Group Practice, as well as HiP, and my own NHS colleagues, who have worked so incredibly hard on this.
“We’re now into the next stage of the life of the practice, as part of the new Ringmead Medical Group, which will be able to build on the great work reflected in the latest CQC rating.”