The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Ashcroft Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Stewkley Road, Wing, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 0NE (01296) 688201

Provided and run by:
Dr Andrew James Silverman

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 Ashcroft Surgery 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 Ashcroft Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

13 September 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Ashcroft Surgery on 13 September 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.

We have not revisited Ashcroft Surgery as part of this review because the practice was able to demonstrate that they were meeting the regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 without the need for a visit.

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

At our previous comprehensive inspection at Ashcroft Surgery in Wing, Bedfordshire on 27 September 2016 we found two breaches of regulations relating to the provision of safe and effective services. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. Specifically, Ashcroft Surgery was rated requires improvement for providing safe and effective services and good for the provision of caring, responsive and well-led services. The full comprehensive report on the September 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ashcroft Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was a desk-based review carried out on 27 March 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 in September 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection. Using information provided by the practice we found the practice was now meeting the regulations that had previously been breached. We have amended the rating for this practice to reflect these changes. The practice is now rated good for the provision of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services. All six population groups have also been re-rated following these improvements and are also rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had assessed what emergency medicines should be available and increased awareness to ensure staff knew the location of the emergency medicines. The practice had the appropriate medicines available to respond to medical emergencies.
  • Appropriate appraisal arrangements were now in place, appraisals had been completed and there was evidence of performance monitoring and identification of personal and professional development.
  • The practice had taken steps to increase the number of identified patients with caring responsibilities within the practice population. In March 2017, the practice patient population list was 3,950. The practice had identified 63 patients, who were also a carer; this was an increase from 39 identified carers at the September 2016 inspection and amounted to approximately 1.5% of the practice list. Each month the practice was identifying more and advising them of the various avenues of support available from the practice, the local council and charities and voluntary organisations such as The Alzheimer’s Society where appropriate.
  • The practice had increased the promotion of the NHS Friends and Family Test within the practice and was taking appropriate action with a view to monitor the patient experience. Practice staff had actively promoted completion of this test and other patient experience tools. Initially participation was slow with only six cards completed in the two month period of November 2016 and December 2016. This improved in January 2017 with 13 feedback cards completed.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

27 September 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ashcroft Surgery in Wing, Bedfordshire on 27 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

Specifically, we found the practice to require improvement for the provision of safe and effective services. The practice was rated good for providing caring, responsive and well-led services. The concerns which led to these ratings apply to all population groups using the practice.

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.
  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. Opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
  • Patients were at risk of harm because the practice did not have processes in place to deal with all possible medical emergencies. For example, there was uncertainty from practice staff as to what emergency medicines were available and where emergency medicines were stored.
  • Training arrangements were consistent and there was a system to identify when staff had training and when it would need to be refreshed. However, there was no programme of staff appraisals, with no evidence of performance monitoring and identification of personal or professional development.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The practice actively reviewed complaints and how they are managed and responded to, and made improvements as a result.
  • The practice had a clear vision which had quality and safety as its top priority. The strategy to deliver this vision was reviewed and discussed with staff.
  • It was evident the practice had gone through a period of transition including a significant number of key staff changes. Staff told us stability had returned and despite the changes we saw evidence of team working across all roles.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements. Importantly, the provider must:

  • The practice must make adequate arrangements to deal with medical emergencies, including an assessment of what emergency medicines should be available and make them easily accessible to all staff.
  • Ensure staff receive appropriate support, professional development and appraisal according to their roles. Including for staff providing clinical care and treatment to ensure it’s in line with national guidance and guidelines.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Review the process of identifying carers to enable them to access the support available via the practice and external agencies.
  • Ensure that the practice engages with patients whilst increasing awareness of the NHS Friends and Family Test to determine appropriate action with a view to monitor the patient experience.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice