Lindley Medical Practice

We carried out an announced inspection at Lindley Medical Practice on 30 June 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as Good.

The ratings for each key question are:

Safe - Good

Effective - Good

Caring - Good

Responsive - Good

Well-led - Good

Why we carried out this inspection

This inspection was a comprehensive inspection which included a site visit. The inspection was carried out following changes to the practice registration in March 2020, after the existing provider changed its legal entity. It had a previous inspection in 2016 under the previous legal provider.

How we carried out the inspection

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently.

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:

• Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing
• Using questionnaires sent to staff prior to the on-site visit
• Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system and discussing findings with the provider
• Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider
• Requesting evidence from the provider
• A shorter 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 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 adjusted how it delivered services to respond to and meet the needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.

During the inspection we noted outstanding features including:

• Supporting refugees to have access to healthcare, and ensuring they are responding to the complex health care needs by offering extended appointments and working closely with local refugee organisations and translators, so patients have access to written information.
• The practice undertook training with a charity and are signed up as a ‘Homeless Friendly’ practice. The practice worked closely with ‘Street Angels’ a local group in Oldham that support the homeless. Staff have provided outreach clinics with the charity, providing basic health checks and given flu vaccines to homeless people who have not registered with a GP. They also used the opportunity to encourage people to register with the practice to enable them to access ongoing healthcare.

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

• Monitor the systems put in place to improve uptake of cervical screening.

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