The Care Quality Commission
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Budleigh Salterton Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

1 The Lawn, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 6LS (01395) 441212

Provided and run by:
Budleigh Salterton Medical 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 Budleigh Salterton Medical 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 Budleigh Salterton Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

9 November 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Budleigh Salterton Medical Practice on 9 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.

26 March 2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During our previous inspection of Budleigh Salterton Medical Practice in September 2018 we found areas where the provider must make improvements. These were to ensure systems and process arrangements for child safeguarding were established and maintained, and ensure the process for checking expiry dates of emergency equipment is in place.

We carried out an announced focused follow up inspection on 26 March 2019 in order to check the required improvements had been made. We undertook the inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. On this inspection 26 March 2019 we found that the provider had made the required improvements.

The full comprehensive report on this location can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Budleigh Salterton Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

The key question at this inspection is rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Overall the practice is rated as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes. For example, there were written flowcharts in place which provided clear guidance for staff to follow a safeguarding process. We found there was an up to date list of currently safeguarded children. Meeting minutes showed that cases had been regularly discussed at quarterly multi-disciplinary meetings and weekly practice meetings.
  • The practice had embedded improvements made in the safe domain. For example, with regard to checking expiry dates of emergency equipment, we found that the practice now had a safe system in place, with regular checking recorded on a spreadsheet system.
  • The safeguarding policy had been reviewed in January 2019. The practice lead GP for safeguarding was working with other East Devon practices to ensure consistency across the locality. GPs had attended safeguarding meetings regularly.
  • We inspected emergency equipment and found it to be in order, with no expired items. Items which were due for replacement in the next three months had been highlighted on the new checking system and replacements already ordered. Checks on the oxygen cylinder had been documented appropriately.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

25 SEP 2018

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating April 2016 – Outstanding)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good


We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Budleigh Salterton Medical Centre on 25 September 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice had systems to manage risk in the majority of areas so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. However, we identified gaps in safeguarding and emergency equipment procedures which required improvement.
  • The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
  • The practice was a yellow fever vaccination centre.
  • A frailty clinic was provided by a specialist health care assistant at the practice.
  • The practice had increased access for patients through its membership of East Devon Health Connect (EDHC) a federation which supported the use of technology such as CareSnap, eConsult, new telephone systems, and GP team net (a new intranet system).

We identified areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice had initiated the creation of a health hub at the local hospital, following the closure of the hospital by NHS England in 2015. This health hub included the provision of daily nurse and health care assistant clinics directly employed by the practice. Other facilities initiated by the practice included a memory café and frailty clinic.
  • The practice provided weekly clinics at the local Bicton College for around 100 students aged 16 plus living on the campus. These included contraceptive and sexual health clinics, mental health and anxiety advice and helped young people to avoid the inconvenience or potential embarrassment of attending the local practice.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure systems and process arrangements for child safeguarding are established and maintained.
  • Ensure the process for checking expiry dates of emergency equipment is in place.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

28 April 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Budleigh Salterton Medical Centre on 28 April 2016. Overall the practice is rated as outstanding.

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.
  • Feedback from patients about their care was consistently and strongly positive.
  • The practice website could be translated into other languages to assist in removing language barriers. The foyer touch screen sign in system had the languages known to the practice of the patient groups and could be updated if a further language was requested. All staff knew how to book an interpreter when required. Makaton cards for learning disability patients were available for use in all consulting rooms. A hearing loop was available at the reception desk.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • Telephone consultations were available for patients and patients could book appointments online via computer or phone app. Patients could email the practice directly for advice.
  • The practice had an informative website and a range of patient leaflets in the practice.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • 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 practice was involved in piloting studies for clinical research, to seek improvements for patient outcomes.
  • The practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they meet patients’ needs.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice was actively seeking to engage with children to hear their views about facilities and staff friendliness. The practice had adapted a version of the Friends and Family Test for children. This was a simpler form that included facial expressions to indicate levels of satisfaction. We saw children were completing these feedback forms and this had led to improved child friendly facilities in the waiting area.
  • The practice had identified that the prevalence of dementia amongst patients registered at the practice was approximately double that of the local CCG and national averages. The practice funded and staffed a community based memory café in Budleigh Salterton, which met twice a month. The café provided practical information and support, as well as the opportunity for people with dementia, their families and carers to ask questions and to listen to others experiences. Nurses and health care assistants from the practice facilitated the sessions and spent one to one time with patients and their carers' at the café, talking about individual needs and taking action to refer patients and carers back to the practice for action, referral or signposting.
  • The practice employed a health care assistant with a specific role of managing vulnerable older patients in the community, alongside the patients’ named GP. They had continued this service at their own expense after the original funding had ceased. The practice had identified over 500 patients over 80 who lived alone. The aim was to keep patients safe in their own homes and to ensure their long term needs and wishes were met with dignity and respect. All identified patients were contacted and support was offered in a variety of ways, from referrals to GPs for home visits or social services support assessments, to ensuring patients had sufficient supplies of food at home.
  • A nominated member of staff had dedicated clinics for supporting carers. The first appointment was for an hour with a follow up appointment every six months or sooner if required. The assessment in the clinic was tailored to provide help with carers’ emotional and social needs as well as their physical needs.
  • The practice used resources effectively to make a difference to the patient population. The practice was rurally located and all GPs had a defibrillator in their personal cars. They were therefore able to respond to emergencies in the community. An example was given of when this was effectively used for a member of the public at a sports event where a GP was spectating.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice