Swindon GP practice in running to be named Surgery of the Year

A Swindon GP practice is hoping to cap off an already impressive and memorable 2018 by adding Surgery of the Year to its growing list of achievements.

Abbey Meads Medical Practice is one of 80 from across the country to have been shortlisted for the prestigious honour at this years General Practice Awards.

Having already set the bar high with a glowing report from the Care Quality Commission earlier in the year, staff at the North Swindon Surgery are hopeful their winning streak continues.

Robin Somers, Abbey Meads Medical Group's Practice Manager, said "To be included in a list of the country's best GP practices an honour in itself, but its exciting to know there's every possibility the title of Surgery of the Year could soon be on its way to Swindon.

"The last 12 months have seen us take huge steps forward in the services we provide, but it hasn't just been our patients who have noticed the difference.

"We were inspected by the CQC in February and, following that visit, our rating of requires improvement was overturned and changed to good, which shows how far we have come in such a short space of time.

"Being named Surgery of the Year would simply be the icing non the cake for our staff who have worked so hard to deliver change for our patients and the people of Swindon."

The General Practice Awards, which take place in November, aim to highlight and showcase the very best examples of hard work, innovation, and dedication from across the primary care sector.

Surgery of the Year is a new category for 2018 and will see 81 practices from across the country complete for the coveted title.

With almost 17,000 people registered on the books at Abbey Meads Medical Practice, the surgery is the largest in Swindon in terms of patient numbers.

Following an inspection by the CQC in 2017, the surgery was told it needed to improve, so staff set out to implement a host of positive changes, which culminated in the CQC returning in 2018 and giving Abbey Meads a fresh rating of good.

People can help Abbey Meads Medical Practice secure the Surgery of the Year title by texting choice1 to 60777 before Friday 10 August.