A DALES medical practice has been rated among the top four per cent of GP surgeries.

The Leyburn Medical Practice has been branded a 'beacon of excellence' by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, following its glowing Outstanding Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating after the inspection in October last year.

Nationally, only 200, or four per cent, of family doctors reached the same standard.

The inspection report singled out the practice’s treatment of the elderly, the vulnerable, those with long-term conditions and mental health problems, including dementia, for special praise. It also praised its innovation in using a paramedic practitioner to offer a minor injuries service and emergency call-out service.

Mr Sunak said: “I was hugely impressed by the team and the results of its work."

The use of the paramedic practitioner, who is employed by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service but is embedded with the Leyburn doctors, had meant hundreds of patients had not needed to attend hospital and had been treated at the practice or at home.

Mr Sunak met the practice staff, including manager Stephen Brown and paramedic practitioner Pete Shaw, during his visit to the doctors’ modern premises in Brentwood, Leyburn.

He said they had briefed him on the issues they faced in looking after their 6,000 registered patients, many of whom were elderly. These included an increase in demand of 20 per cent in recent years and funding constraints.

Mr Sunak said: “Leyburn Medical Practice is a beacon of excellence in the way it serves its predominantly rural area. It recognises the challenges of being a rural practice but it doesn’t stop it providing great care.”

He added that the northern Dales were lucky in having such excellent primary care. Last year, Reeth Medical Practice was also rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.