• Doctor
  • GP practice

Blake House Surgery

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Bowhay Close, Black Torrington, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5QE (01409) 231628

Provided and run by:
Blake House Surgery

Latest inspection summary

On this page

Our current view of the service

Requires improvement

Updated 25 June 2025

Date of Assessment: 10 September 2025 to 24 September 2025.

Blake House Surgery is a GP practice that delivers service to approximately 2,900 people under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states the ethnicity of the local population of the service is 98% white and the remaining 2% Mixed, Black, Asian and other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the service population group is in the fifth decile (5 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the service population is relative to others. This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the service, the context the service was working within and how this impacted service delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report .

Leaders were working to embed a culture of openness and collaboration, but it was not adequate or consistent. Staff did not always have the right skills and experience and were unclear with their role and responsibility. The service did not always ensure staff received the appropriate level of supervision. The service did not safely manage medicines. Actions to learn and improve is not always taken when ideas are presented to do so. However, people and staff were encouraged and supported to raise concerns about safety and ideas to improve care delivery.

The service did not always make sure people’s care and treatment was effective because they did not always monitor people’s health needs. However, the service made appropriate considerations about whether people had capacity to make decisions, and they involved relevant people to help make decisions in the best interests of people where necessary. The service worked well across teams and services to support people and ensure key information about people who used the service was available to professionals who needed to review it.

The service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Staff protected people’s privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had a choice in their care and treatment. The service supported staff wellbeing.

People being involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.

The service did not always have clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability or good governance. There was not a culture of continuous improvement. However, leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying and harassment.

We found a breach of legal regulation in relation to good governance. In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward.

People's experience of the service

Updated 25 June 2025

People were mostly positive about the quality of their care at Blake House Surgery. We reviewed results from the 2024 National GP Survey, which indicated 85% of responders had an overall positive experience of the service, which was above the national average of 74%.

There was an active Patient Participation Group (PPG), which represented the views of people using the service. The group met quarterly to discuss the service and concerns raised. Representatives from the PPG told us they felt listened to. Both the service and the PPG were keen to encourage other people to get involved in the group to ensure better representation of the local population.