The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

South Street Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

83 South Street, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 3AP (01279) 465700

Provided and run by:
South Street Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about South Street Surgery 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 South Street Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

7 November 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about South Street Surgery on 7 November 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.

07/09/2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at South Street Surgery on 7 September 2016. This was to check that improvements had been made following the breaches of legal requirements we identified from our comprehensive inspection carried out on 21 May 2015. During our inspection we found that the practice had made improvements since our previous inspection and was now meeting regulations that had previously been breached. 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.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • 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.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Some patients said it was difficult to book appointments in advance. However, they were positive about access to same day and urgent appointments at the practice.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Continue to review systems and processes for the effective management of patients receiving medicines which require monitoring.
  • Continue to monitor and take steps to make improvements to the National GP Patient Survey results; including access to the practice by telephone.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

21 May 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced inspection of South Street Surgery on 21 May 2015. This was a comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act (2008) as part of our regulatory functions. The practice achieved an overall rating of requires improvement. Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing effective services. We found it to be requiring improvement for safe, caring, responsive and well-led. Consequently, it requires improvement for providing services for older people; people with long-term conditions; families, children and young people; working age people; people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Systems were in place to identify and respond to concerns about the safeguarding of adults and children.
  • We saw patients receiving respectful treatment from staff. Patients felt they were seen by supportive and helpful staff. Patients reported feeling satisfied with the care and treatment they received.
  • The practice offered a number of services designed to promote patients’ health and wellbeing and prevent the onset of illness.
  • The practice acted upon best practice guidance and completed clinical audit to further improve patient care.
  • The management and meeting structure ensured that appropriate clinical decisions were reached and action was taken.
  • Some systems designed to assess the risk of and to prevent, detect and control the spread of infection were lacking or not fully implemented. Some waiting room carpets were not clean.
  • Patients’ privacy, including during consultations was infringed. Conversations held at reception and in consultation rooms could be overheard.
  • Appointments, including those required in an emergency were available, although there could be a considerable wait for pre-bookable appointments. The waiting time to be seen once in the practice could also be long.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Ensure that systems designed to assess the risk of and to prevent, detect and control the spread of infection are fully implemented and audited. Ensure all areas of the practice are clean. Staff should be trained in relation to infection control processes and procedures.
  • Ensure that patient privacy is maintained during consultations and at reception.
  • Take steps to reduce the waiting time for pre-bookable appointments and the wait for patients to be seen once in the practice.

In addition the provider should:

  • Ensure that all staff have sufficient time to complete the training relevant to their roles.
  • Ensure that all staff employed are supported by receiving appropriate supervision and appraisal.
  • Ensure that all staff have a clear knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding processes in place, including their own responsibilities and the role of the lead.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice