A HEADINGTON health centre which serves the fifth most deprived population in Oxfordshire has been praised after its first inspection by a national watchdog.

Bury Knowle Health Centre and two of the provider’s branch sites at Wood Farm Health Centre and Barton Surgery were visited on September 10 and 11 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

In a report published following the inspection it rated the centre as 'good' overall.

The CQC document stated: "The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm. Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs."

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It added staff dealt with patients with 'kindness and respect' and made sure they were involved in decisions about their care. The report further said that treatment was offered to meet patients’ needs in a' timely way'.

The report said the practice had the fifth most deprived registered population in the county adding: "The practice was a leader within the locality with regards to collaboration and taking a proactive approach to working with other organisations to improve care and tackle health inequalities."

It added the centre had also assumed responsibility for two practices that were due to close, including an additional 8,000 patients and that it currently served more than 29,000.