A WEST Cumbrian GP practice is among a handful in the county to be rated "outstanding" by inspectors.

Maryport Group Practice was given the top rating by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection in August.

The report highlighted a number of areas of outstanding practice, including specialist clinics for frail and elderly patients which had prevented unplanned hospital admissions.

Sarah Cousins, practice manager, said: "There are not many practices in Cumbria that have got outstanding so that's quite special.

"The feedback they gave us was fantastic. They were really impressed with what we do.

"I think it was the fact that we look beyond the practice. We try to go above and beyond. We are the only practice in town and for the patients who live here it's a long way to Whitehaven or Carlisle so we want to provide as much as we can for them here."

Under the commission's programme of inspections, all GP practices in England are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The inspection team, which included a GP specialist advisor, rated the services provided by the Maryport Group Practice as outstanding overall and outstanding for providing services to older patients and to families, children and young people.

The surgery at Alneburgh House, on Ewanrigg Road, serves about 13,700 patients from across the Maryport area.

Sue McMillan, the commission's deputy chief inspector of general practice in the north, said: "We found that Maryport Group Practice is providing an outstanding service, particularly for older patients, and for families, children and young people.

"We were particularly impressed with the practice’s work to initiate positive service improvements for local patients and the commitment of all staff to continuously seek improved outcomes for local people.

"The practice was taking steps to reduce emergency admissions to hospital for patients with complex conditions, and clear systems were in place to ensure patients discharged from hospital were fully supported.

"This is a great example of what outstanding care looks like."