Following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Bradford Care Alliance has recently received a rating as ‘good’ marking a significant improvement from the previous rating.
The CQC carried out a comprehensive inspection of Bradford Care Alliance CIC (BCA) during August before publishing its results last week. The rating has seen Bradford Care Alliance move from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, recognising the work that has gone in to address the issues previously identified.
BCA is a member-led community interest company that works with GP practices in the Bradford District and a range of delivery partners.
The most recent inspection highlighted the work BCA has done in partnership with Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that has resulted in a service identified as outstanding by the inspectors. The primary care streaming service works alongside and within accident and emergency providing much needed support for people arriving at accident and emergency.
CQC also highlighted the processes BCA have in place to ensure premises are safe, any risks and concerns are managed effectively; and learning and improvement processes are managed effectively. Patients reported that they were able to access care when they needed it with feedback from patients being positive. Staff also informed the CQC that they enjoyed working for BCA and were kept up to date with information and changes to the service.
Dr Richard Haddad, Chair of BCA said ‘’We are delighted with the ‘good’ rating across all domains of the CQC inspection. Everyone who works within and alongside Bradford Care Alliance does a fabulous job in delivering a highly valued and much needed service to patients across Bradford. Since our last inspection the Board of BCA, and in particular our operational delivery team, have done everything possible to improve all aspects of our care and delivery. We are thrilled and grateful that this significant work has been recognised by the CQC as we continue to make improvements.
“We recognise we have work to do to maintain and build on our rating while continuing to respond to people’s feedback when they access services from across our GP practices. We are working hard to introduce additional appointments with a wide range of healthcare professionals through our enhanced access scheme and we will be supporting a campaign that highlights the different colleagues and professionals that make up a GP practice team. All of this should further improve people’s experience of care.”
Mel Pickup, Place Lead for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership and Chief Executive for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are pleased to hear of the positive outcome of the latest CQC inspection report for Bradford Care Alliance. During a time when all health and care services are dealing with record levels of demand this is a real morale boost for those working to help our patients and their families on a daily basis.
“Our hospital trust has benefitted from the support provided by Bradford Care Alliance with the CQC highlighting the strong, professional and reciprocal relationships between the team and the staff working within the emergency department (ED) which kept patients safe. This is yet another example of how our Act as One way of working is delivering positive change to our colleagues and communities across our Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.”
BCA and its partners across Bradford are now focusing on further developments within their enhanced access provision. This aims to provide further flexibility for GP practice appointments including evening and the roll out of weekend GP and nursing appointments.
This builds on an existing scheme that sees BCA’s member GP Practices – comprising almost 90% of GP Practices in Bradford – continuing to see patients over five evenings per week with many appointments available from 6:30pm up to 9:30pm, across 10 hub sites. Hub sites may mean people are seen at a GP practice local to them but not necessarily their own GP practice, people can find out more by speaking to their own practice or checking their practice’s website.
To view the inspection report please visit the Care Quality Commission website: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-3602225624