The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Dr Venkatachalum Raj

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

37 Orient Road, Salford, Greater Manchester, M6 8LE (0161) 789 3029

Provided and run by:
Dr Venkatachalum Raj

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 Venkatachalum Raj 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 Venkatachalum Raj, you can give feedback on this service.

16 November 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Dr Venkatachalum Raj also known as Orient Road Medical Practice on 15 and 16 November 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Safe - good

Effective - good

Caring - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection

Responsive - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection

Well-led - good

Following our previous inspection on 04 February 2016 the practice was rated good overall and for all key questions.

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Venkatachalum Raj on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out this inspection in line with our inspection priorities. This inspection was a focused inspection looking at the key questions Safe, Effective and Well-led.

How we carried out the inspection/review

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.

Our findings

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

We have rated this practice as good overall

Following this inspection, we have rated the practice good for providing safe services.

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.

Following this inspection, we have rated the practice good for providing effective services.

  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.

We have carried forward the rating of good for providing caring services from the previous inspection.

  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.

We have carried forward the rating of good for providing responsive services from the previous inspection.

  • Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.

Following this inspection, we have rated the practice good for providing well-led services.

  • The way the practice managed and promoted the delivery of good-quality, person-centre care.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Continue to work on ways to improve cervical screening uptake.
  • Record clear management advice following a high HbA1c result for patients with diabetic retinopathy.
  • Review and improve the systems for managing risk.
  • Accurately manage and document that persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate training necessary to enable them to carry out their duties.

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

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services

04 February 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Orient Road Medical Practice on 4 February 2016. 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider must should improvement are:

  • Review the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk assessment so that it is in line with the practice's COSHH procedure.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice