A GP surgery in Benson is celebrating after becoming the third ever practice in Oxfordshire to be rated 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors gave Mill Stream Surgery the highest possible rating after visiting the site in Mill Lane in October last year, recording the results in December.

Practice manager Sarah Denton praised the 'fantastic' team, which includes four doctors, two nurses, a health care assistant and admin staff caring for 4,700 patients.

She said: "We were absolutely delighted and very proud of the recognition our fantastic team received for their hard work.

"Our entire team are dedicated to our patients and always try their very best."

Mill Stream received outstanding ratings for effectiveness and leadership and good ratings for safety, care and responsiveness, leading to an overall rating of outstanding.

Professor Steve Field, the CQC's chief inspector of general practice, stated in the report: "The culture and leadership within the practice provided an open learning environment where all staff contributed to making ongoing improvements to patient care.

"The practice had good facilities and was well-equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. There was an ethos of continuous learning and improvement."

It was also noted that Mill Stream is an unusually high performer in encouraging patients to take part in certain types of screening programmes.

Of those eligible, 62 per cent had undertaken bowel cancer screening compared to the national average of 59 per cent.

A total of 82 per cent of those eligible had attended breast cancer screening compared to 73 per cent nationally, and the practice's uptake for cervical screening was 92 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 82 per cent.

Every single patient surveyed also said they found it easy to contact the GP by phone in July 2016, compared to an Oxfordshire average of 82 per cent.

Inspectors added: "We observed members of staff were courteous and very helpful to patients and treated them with dignity and respect.

"Patients told us they felt listened to and supported by staff and had sufficient time during consultations to make an informed decision."

Mill Stream follows Windrush Medical Centre in Witney and Luther Street Surgery in Oxford in getting the rare accolade from the CQC.

Ms Denton added: "Our team always try to offer the best care to each individual person, based on their needs and preferences.

"We monitor our services carefully, to try to ensure our care is safe, effective and compassionate."