A CHURCH support group has been commended for its ‘excellent’ work in the community.

Community Angels, a voluntary groups which works out of St Andrew’s Church, has been recognised for its contribution to the ‘outstanding services’ of the Royal Crescent and Preston Road medical surgery.

The Weymouth doctors’ surgery was awarded the highest accolade following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The inspectors’ report highlighted number of areas of outstanding practice including the Community Angels services which offers patients a befriending service, transport to appointments and a support scheme to address social isolation.

Ruth Rankin, deputy chief inspector of general practice in the south region, said: “It is clear Royal Crescent Surgery is providing a caring, responsive and well led service which is a real asset to the people living in this part of Dorset.

“The practice had adopted a proactive approach to reaching out to patients especially those who are be lonely and vulnerable.”

Community Angels was created by the Rev Tim West six years ago when the church realised it could not visit all the vulnerable people in Preston and Osmington.

Group co-ordinator Brian Sadler said: “We basically do anything a good neighbour would do, if anyone needs a hand we try and help them with anything.

“We have over 50 volunteers who give any amount of time they wish, whether that is half-an-hour a month or much more, it’s as much as they can give.”

As the group is jointly managed by the church and the surgery, Brain spends time going on safety courses and liaising with social workers to understand core issues.

He said the main priority for the volunteers is tackling loneliness and social isolation among the town’s elderly population.

He said: “We work with a few old people’s homes in the area and our volunteers spend a lot of time popping round to people’s house for a tea and a chat or helping them with their shopping.”

Last year the Community Angels made over 3000 visits to vulnerable people, accompanied patients on 250 doctor’s appointments, served over 400 lunches and went on more than 500 dog walks.