The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh Also known as Town Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

25 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1AR (01732) 454545

Provided and run by:
Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh 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 Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh, you can give feedback on this service.

3 August 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh on 3 August 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.

14 September 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh on 15 December 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe, effective and well-led services and rated as good for providing caring and responsive services. The full comprehensive report on the December 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 14 September 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 15 December 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • All staff were trained to the appropriate level in safeguarding children.
  • The practice had improved its systems and processes to assess and manage the risks of legionella and the safe management of blank prescriptions.
  • The practice carried out the necessary recruitment checks prior to employing staff.
  • The practice had adequate equipment and staff were now appropriately trained to respond to medical and other emergencies.
  • There was an induction programme for newly appointed staff and an overall training schedule that ensured staff received training appropriate to their roles. There was an effective system that ensured all staff received annual appraisals.
  • The practice’s patient administration systems included only current staff.
  • The practice was investigating improvements to the telephone access system for patients.
  • There were effective arrangements to monitor and improve quality and identify risk.

We found one area where the provider should make improvement:

  • The number of carers identified on the practice’s system was 10, which was less than 1% of the patient list. The provider should implement a pro-active system that identifies patients who are also carers to help ensure they are offered relevant additional support.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

15 December 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Taylor, Dr Hofmann, Dr Idowu and Dr Ghosh on 15 December 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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

  • There was an effective system for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were not always assessed and well managed. For example, risk assessments relating to legionella had not been carried out.
  • The practice’s systems, processes and practices did not always keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
  • Blank prescription forms and pads were securely stored. However, there were no systems to monitor their use.
  • The practice was unable to demonstrate appropriate recruitment checks were always undertaken prior to the employment of staff.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. However, the practice was unable to demonstrate that staff had been trained to provide them with 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.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. However, the practice did not have a supply of medical oxygen for use in emergencies.
  • 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.
  • Patients we spoke with on the day of the inspection said they did not always find it easy to get through to the practice by telephone to make an appointment. There was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
  • 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 recruitment arrangements include all necessary checks and are carried out for all staff prior to employment.
  • Revise governance arrangements and ensure risks to patients, staff and visitors are adequately assessed and managed.
  • Ensure there is a system to monitor the use of blank prescription forms and pads.
  • Ensure staff receive induction training; are up to date with receiving mandatory training; receive regular appraisals; and that all staff training is monitored and recorded.

In addition the provider should:

  • Improve patients’ ability to contact the practice by telephone.
  • Revise the system that identifies patients who are also carers to help ensure that all patients on the practice list who are carers are offered relevant support if required.
  • Ensure staff who have left the practice are removed from the practice’s patient administration system in a timely manner.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice