The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Blacketts Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

63-65 Bondgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7JR (01325) 380640

Provided and run by:
Blacketts Medical Practice

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Blacketts 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 Blacketts Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

16/10/2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an inspection of this service due to the length of time since the last inspection. Following our review of the information available to us, including information provided by the practice, we focused our inspection on the following key questions:

  • Is the service effective
  • Is the service well-led

Because of the assurance received from our review of information we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions:

  • Is the service safe
  • Is the service caring
  • Is the service responsive

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 and good for all population groups.

We found that:

  • 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.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.
  • The practice worked well with other organisation to improve the health and well-being of the wider community.
  • The practice had been carrying out work with ethnic minority patients in relation to engagement and promoting health checks and healthier lifestyles.
  • The practice had developed and introduced Blacketts Lifestyle Information and Support Service (BLISS), a service generated as a result of suggestions from non-clinical staff within the practice. This is a six-week programme providing lifestyle and social support in addition to weight management and dietary advice.

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

9 March 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out this comprehensive inspection on 9 March 2015.

Overall, we rated this practice as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice provided a good standard of care, led by current best practice guidelines.
  • Patients told us they were treated with dignity and respect.
  • The practice performed well in the management of long term conditions.
  • Patients could access appointments without difficulty, and were happy with the telephone and repeat prescribing systems.
  • The practice had developed good continuity of care for patients in nursing homes, and good communication with home staff.
  • The building was safe for patients to access, with sufficient facilities and equipment to provide safe effective services.

We saw some areas of outstanding practice including:

  • Enhanced care plans and communication/education with care homes including weekly ward rounds.
  • The practice manager visited management staff at nursing homes quarterly, and the practice had promoted shared training initiatives with care home staff.
  • The practice was able to evidence a fall in emergency admissions to hospital as a result of these initiatives.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

  • Ensure systems are effective to check and identify when medicines in doctor’s bags have reached their expiry date, so that these are disposed of.
  • Ensure scales are checked and calibrated in accordance with manufacturers recommendations.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice