The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Westerham Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Russell House, Barleys Meadow, Market Square, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1RB (01959) 564949

Provided and run by:
Westerham Practice

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Westerham Practice on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Westerham Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

10 September 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Westerham Practice on 10 September 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

24 January 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Westerham Practice in Westerham, Kent on 24 January 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • An understanding of the clinical performance and patient satisfaction of the practice was maintained. The practice had reviewed clinical performance and implemented actions to improve.
  • Feedback from patients relating to access to services and the quality of care was higher when compared with local and national averages. This was collaborated by written and verbal feedback collected during the inspection.
  • The continued development of staff skills, competence and knowledge was recognised as integral to ensuring high-quality care. We saw evidence and staff we spoke with told us they are supported to acquire new skills and share best practice.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The practice actively reviewed complaints and how they are managed and responded to and made improvements as a result.
  • The leadership team drove continuous improvement and staff were accountable for delivering change. There was a clear proactive approach to seek out and embed new ways of providing care and treatment.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Review the business continuity plan to include emergency contact and specific cascade contact information.
  • Continue to review patient outcomes to ensure that patients receive appropriate care and treatment. This would include a review of the system in place to promote completion of dementia care plans in order to increase patient uptake.
  • Formalise how training, learning and development needs are identified via re-introducing a programme of appraisals.
  • Improve patient awareness of access to translation services and how to provide feedback.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

15 May 2014

During a routine inspection

The Westerham Practice covers much of the North Downs area. The practice is based at two main centres, Winterton Surgery just off Market Square Westerham and The Medical Centre on the main road in Sundridge.

The locations inspected were the Winterton Surgery at Russell House, Market Square, Westerham and the branch surgery located at The Medical Centre at 173 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks. The medical centre has a fully stocked dispensary and qualified dispenser. All patients who live more than a mile from a local pharmacy are able to choose to have their medicines dispensed to them at the surgery, or at their homes if the doctor is visiting. Arrangements can be made for the housebound to have their repeat medication delivered.

The practice was responsive to patients’ needs. Staff had access to appropriate equipment, training, guidance and support. Staff had access to information about patients to support clinical decisions so that they could deal effectively with patients’ needs. The provider had satisfactory systems in place to protect patients from the risk of abuse and ensure they received the appropriate care and treatment.

Staff told us they felt supported and the practice was well-led. There was a clear governance structure in place and regular team meetings to ensure that information was cascaded to all team members. We found that annual appraisals were undertaken for all staff, however, there were limited opportunities for staff to formally discuss issues relating to their work in a one to one meeting.

We found the practice was effective in meeting a wide range of patients’ needs. Patients told us that they were happy with the care they received and that they were involved in decisions about their care. We were told staff were polite and respectful and we observed this to be the case. The practice carried out regular satisfaction surveys to capture patients’ views.

During our inspection we spoke with 25 patients. Without exception patients were complimentary about the care they received and told us that staff were helpful, knowledgeable and that they felt safe and well cared for. However, patients repeatedly complained that there was a long wait for appointments if they wished to see their own doctor.

We saw that the practice proactively identified patients and their carers who may need on-going support. The practice provided home visits for those who were housebound or too ill to visit the surgery. There were district nurses attached to the practice who were available to give nursing care to patients in their homes. The practice had a named GP who visited 26 patients on a weekly basis at a local residential home.