A HEALTH firm based in Batley has been given a double boost from inspectors in its bid to keep running services.
Locala, headquartered at Beckside Court, was rated good for its walk-in centre at Dewsbury District Hospital.
An unannounced visit by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on January 4 was on top of reviews for seven other Locala services. Home care was given high marks in areas including patient welfare, staffing levels and handling complaints.
The walk-in centre at the hospital, which aims to take pressure off A&E, had a similar positive review.
One patient quoted by the CQC said: “Every town should have a service like this. I have travelled 20 miles as my GP couldn’t give me an appointment.”
It comes at a key time for Locala because its contract to run non-acute health services ends in October.
The North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group have already said they will put the deal out to tender.
Locala, a not-for-profit company, could get a 12-month extension as any new provider would not be in place until at least summer 2015.
The contract covers fields such as district nursing, health visitors, speech therapy and sexual health.
Locala told The Press in November that they intend to bid, though at that point no timetable for tender process had been set.
Tina Quinn, Locala’s director of clinical and operational services, said: “We were very pleased to receive these excellent reports.
“They give a clear, strong and reassuring message to our patients and the community about the high standard of Locala
services.”
