A BOLTON health centre has been highlighted as part of a major nationwide review into healthcare by the Care Quality Commission.

Dalefield Surgery which is based in the Avondale Health Centre in Avondale Street was rated outstanding by the health watchdog report for its equality in health and social care with inspectors specifically praising how staff deal with vulnerable patients.

The CQC's 'State of Care' is the first report that uses the regulator's more thorough inspections and draws from evidence across every sector in the healthcare industry.

The Bolton centre, which has about 6,100 patients according to its last CQC report, was praised as part of the report's look into equality in the healthcare sector in England and Wales in the past 12 months and how staff deal with duties under the Equality Act 2010.

As part of the review inspectors said: "We rated Dalefield Surgery good for their overall care of patients and outstanding for the treatment of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

"Approximately nine per cent of Dalefield Surgery patients do not speak English as their first language.

"The reception staff have translation prompts to greet all patients, establish the nature of their visit and help them book appointments."

Inspectors said the practice and a staff of support workers to work specifically with non-English speaking families to make sure they understood the services available to them.

They added: "For all non-English speaking patients, extended appointments slots are booked and interpreters are available via a telephone service.

"For new patients, a referral is made to a support worker to ensure patients are supported to provide voluntary and informed consent to treatment."

In its last report the surgery was praised for providing good access to services and for the way patients were treated.

Practice manager Marie Bryan said: "It's a very great achievement that reflects on the whole team and the service we give to patients.

"We are quite proud of the fact we have a mention in the national CQC report because we do put an awful lot of importance on treating people equally."