• Doctor
  • GP practice

The Greenwood Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

89 Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex, RM3 0DR (01708) 346666

Provided and run by:
The Greenwood 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 The Greenwood 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 The Greenwood Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

11 September to 11 September 2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Greenwood Practice on the 11 September 2019, to follow up the breaches of inspection found in the inspection of 19 February 2019.

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:-

• what we found when we inspected,

• information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services,

• information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall

We rated the practice as good for providing a well led services because:

The practice had responded to our the findings of the CQC inspection in February 2019 and made improvements.

  • The practice had a vision and credible strategy to provide high quality sustainable care and had a succession plan to ensure the continuity of the service.
  • The practice had recognised the need to provide staff with new responsibilities and roles to help support good governance and management.
  • The practice had improved their processes for managing risks, issues and performance.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Ensure the fire risk assessment is carried out by a trained and competent person.

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

5 March to 5 March 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs. Zachariah, Lee, Acheson and Sinha on 25 February 2019.

At this inspection we followed up on breaches of regulations identified at a previous inspection on 6 April 2018.

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of: -

  • what we found when we inspected,
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services,
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall and good for all population groups.

We have rated the provider good in safe, effective, caring, and responsive because: -

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • The practice was able to demonstrate that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • Staff helped patients to be involved in decisions about care and treatment about care and treatment.
  • Complaints were listened and responded to and used to improve the quality of care.
  • The practice had responded to patients needs following the closure of a local practice and accepted the registration of over 500 new patients.

We rated the practice as requires improvement for providing well-led services because:

  • Although the practice had made improvements following the previous inspection in regard to medicines management and policies and procedures. Further improvements were required to ensure good governance was maintained. The practice did not always ensure all health and safety risks were assessed and minimised.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report)

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Review the waste management process to ensure that it meets the Healthcare Technical Memorandum ‘ guidance.
  • Review the patient group directives to ensure all are correctly signed.

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

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

5 March 2018

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as Requires Improvement overall.

At our previous comprehensive inspection on the 11 November 2016 we rated practice as requires improvement overall. We carried out a follow up inspection to review the area of safe, responsive and well-led on the 21 August 2017 and found the practice had made some improvements, however the overall rating remained as requires improvement and we found the practice remained requires improvement for safe, responsive and inadequate for well-led. We issued a warning notice that required the practice to make improvements to their governance.

At this inspection on the 5 March 2018 we found the rating for the overall practice as requires improvement.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Requires Improvement.

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Requires Improvement.

People with long-term conditions – Requires Improvement.

Families, children and young people – Requires Improvement.

Working age people (including those retired and students – Requires Improvement.

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Requires Improvement.

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Requires Improvement.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs Zachariah, Lee, Acheson and Sinha on the 5 March 2018. We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was planned to check whether the provider was now meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014

At this inspection we found:

  • The governance structure had led to a gap in ensuring that the infection control, emergency equipment, and management of medication guidelines were adhered to. For example, the practice did not have a robust system in place to ensure the security of blank prescription forms against theft and misuse. In addition, it did not store all of the medicines safely.
  • The practice had clear systems to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.

  • The practice ensured that facilities and equipment were safe and that equipment was maintained according to manufacturers’ instruction.

  • There was a system for receiving and acting on safety alerts. The practice learned from external safety events as well as patient and medicine safety alerts.

  • The practice had made some improvements to the premises to enable it to comply with infection control standards and staff had completed infection control training.

  • The practice had systems to keep clinicians up to date with current evidence-based practice.

  • Staff had the skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out their roles.

  • Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment.

  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

  • Clinicians understood the requirements of legislation and guidance when considering consent and decision-making.

  • Forty-two patients completed the CQC comment cards; many commented that the receptionists were friendly and caring. All but one had made positive comments about the doctors and nurses. We spoke with 11 patients, ten told us the overall attitude of staff was good and they were treated with respect.

  • Patients were able to access care and treatment from the practice within an acceptable timescale for their needs.

  • Following the previous inspection, the practice manager carried out monthly and quarterly audits to identify and follow up the non-attendance of appointments. For example, for shingles, coil recalls, surgical biopsies return from the laboratory, child immunisation, and annual health checks. The doctor had carried out a clinical audit regarding the prescribing of patient’s antipsychotic drugs, and a two cycle audit for minor surgical procedures

  • The practice manager following the previous inspection had encouraged the start-up of a patient participation group (PPG). At present it had five members and further members were encouraged to join on the practice website. The PPG held their first meeting on the 9 January and minutes were produced and circulated.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

  • Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients. In particular there was no proper and safe management of medicines and staff had not adhered to the infection control and waste management recommendations.

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are: [include as needed]

  • Review the recruitment procedure to ensure that staff do not commence work without a current DBS check.

  •  Review the procedure for checking the defibrilator to ensure it meets the Resuscitation Council guidance.

  • Review the storage of patient medicines to ensure that it is auditable.

  • Review the procedure for cleaning the treatment room and consultation room curtains to ensure it meets The Health and Safety Executive guidance.

  • Provide patients with information about how to access the services offered.

  • Review the policies and procedures to ensure staff capture the system for recording and responding to test results and the Duty of Candour. In addition to ensure all staff are aware of any lessons learnt from significant events.

  • Review the organisational structure to ensure the nursing staff participate in clinical meetings and receive clinical support and supervision.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

21 August 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs. Zachariah, Lee, Acheson & Sinha on 11 November 2016. The practice was rated good for being effective and caring and requires improvement for being safe, responsive and well led. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the November 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Drs. Zachariah, Lee, Acheson & Sinha on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 21 August 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 11 November 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice remains rated requires improvement.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Whilst some improvement had been made we found a number of issues identified at the inspection of 11 November 2016 remained unaddressed at the inspection of 21 August 2017. Also, the provider had failed to submitted an action plan detailing what steps they would take to address the concerns identified during the inspection of 11 November 2016.

  • Data showed patient outcomes in respect of mental health indicators and childhood immunisations remained below average.

  • There was limited evidence of continuous clinical and internal audits used to monitor quality and to make improvements.

  • Patients said they did not find it easy to make an appointment with a named GP. Urgent appointments were available the same day.

  • Patients remained unsatisfied with the practice opening hours. Forty-five percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the practice’s opening hours compared to the CCG average of 70% and the national average of 76%. The practice was reviewing options to try and improve this.

  • Some issues identified during the most recent infection control audit had been addressed; however, those requiring refurbishment of the premises remained outstanding.

  • Some risks to patients were assessed and well managed. However, some issues which related to infection control remained unaddressed.

  • The practice had a governance framework however this was not always put into practice to ensure the delivery of the strategy and good quality care was maintained.

  • The practice aimed to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients, however this was not always achieved in practice.

  • We saw evidence of the regular review of and the sharing of learning from complaints.

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

  • Lessons were learnt from individual concerns and complaints and also from analysis of trends.

At the previous inspection of 11 November 2016 we said the provider should:

  • Take action to ensure patient outcomes were in line with national and local averages including people with mental health conditions and childhood immunisations.

  • Review systems to identify carers in the practice to ensure they received appropriate care and support.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice’s performance in relation to mental health remained below average for the period April 2015 to March 2016 (practice 59%, CCG 92%, national 93%). The provider reiterated that this had been due to the illness and then passing away of the partner who led on mental health. They told us they had already taken action to address performance in this area, including nominating a new lead GP for mental health. They expected improvement for the current year.

  • Childhood immunisation rates for the vaccinations given had improved. There are four areas where childhood immunisations are measured; each has a target of 90%. The practice achieved the target in four out of four areas.

  • Processes to identify patients who were carers had not improved. They had identified 19 patients as carers, less than one per cent of the patient list. Carers were identified opportunistically. There was no process in place to support the identification of carers by the practice. During the inspection the new patient registration form was updated to include a question about caring responsibilities.

There remained areas of practice where the provider needed to make improvements.

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care. In particular, the provider must ensure staff receive necessary training in infection control and being fire wardens.

  • Review processes and procedures to support a set programme of continuous clinical and internal audit.

  • Improve systems or processes in order to seek and act on feedback from relevant persons and other persons on the services provided in the carrying on of the regulated activity. In particular, patients’ views about how they could access care and treatment.

In addition the provider should:

  • Continue to review and pursue options to ensure the outstanding actions identified during the infection control audit and fire risk assessment are addressed.

  • Continue to review the practice’s performance in relation to patients suffering poor mental health and take appropriate steps to address below average performance.

  • Continue to review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the clinical system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to them.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

11 November 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs. Zachariah, Lee, Acheson & Sinha on 11 November 2016. Overall, the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. However, the practice could not give examples of any incidences that had taken place in the practice as they told us none had occured.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and managed, with the exception of those relating to infection control, patient record safety and risk assessments.
  • Data showed patient outcomes were comparable to the national average, with the exception of mental health indicators and childhood immunisations, which were lower than the national average.
  • Although audits had been carried the practice could not provide evidence that a programme of continuous clinical and internal audits were used to monitor quality and to make improvements.
  • The majority of patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect. However, not all patients felt treatment was explained and they did not feel involved in decisions about their care.
  • Patients said they found it difficult to make an appointment with a named GP; however, they said that urgent appointments were available the same day.
  • Patients said that they were not satisfied with the practice opening hours.[WS1] The GP survey results showed 53% of patients were satisfied with the practice’s opening hours compared to the CCG average of 70% and the national average of 76%.
  • Patients could get information about how to complain in a format they could understand. However, there was no evidence that learning from complaints had been shared with staff.
  • The practice could not demonstrate how they proactively sought feedback from patients, although they had a PPG, it was not active.
  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure systems are established to monitor infection control in the practice, including infection control audits and provide staff with role specific infection control training.
  • Ensure patient records are stored in a secure place, which can only be accessed by authorised people.
  • Ensure risk assessments are carried out by trained and qualified people with the skills to do so, including COSHH and legionella risk assessment. Ensure any actions for improvement identified are acted on.
  • Ensure staff receive mandatory training, to include information governance and infection control specific to their roles.
  • Ensure systems are in place to actively seek feedback from people to access and monitor the quality of service being provided. Ensure these are analysed and action is taken to make improvements including the review of all complaints and feedback from Patient Participation Group (PPG).

In addition the provider should:

  • Review the business continuity plan and include up to date and current staff contact list.
  • Take action to ensure patient outcomes are in line with national and local averages including people with mental health conditions and childhood immunisations.
  • Review systems to identify carers in the practice to ensure they receive appropriate care and support.
  • Identify ways to improve patient’s access to the practice.
  • Ensure that the practice strategy and supporting business plans are documented to reflect the practice vision and values.
  • Ensure a programme of quality improvement including clinical audit is carried out to monitor and make improvements to patient outcomes.
  • Consider having formal governance meetings with the whole practice team.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice