The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Sainsburys Store, 2 White Hart Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 5EF 0300 123 3366

Provided and run by:
The Elizabeth Courtauld Partnership

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 12 to 21 May 2026. North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre is a GP practice and delivers services to approximately 18,663 people under a contract held with NHS England. There is a branch site at Beaulieu Healthcare Centre. According to the latest available data, the ethnic make-up of the service area is approximately 87% White, 6% Asian, 3% Mixed, 3% Black and 1% Other. Information published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows deprivation within the service population group is in the 9 decile (9 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the service population is relative to others.

This was a focused assessment. We undertook this assessment due to the length of time since our last assessment. We assessed 10 quality statements from across all 5 key questions. 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.

SAFE - Staff kept facilities clean and maintained equipment appropriately to ensure people were kept safe. They assessed and managed the risk of infection well and took steps to control the risk of it spreading. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience.

EFFECTIVE - Staff supported people to live healthier lives, monitoring their care and treatment to ensure they received positive and consistent outcomes.

CARING - Staff treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion, and respected their privacy and dignity.

RESPONSIVE - People could access care, treatment and support when they needed it. Leaders and staff were alert to discrimination and inequality that could disadvantage groups of people who used the service and sought ways to address any barriers.

WELL-LED - The service had a clear vision and strategy, which considered the needs of the people who used their service and the wider community. Staff understood their individual roles and responsibilities. Leaders accounted for the actions, behaviours and performance of staff through clear and effective governance processes.

27 June 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at North Chelmsford Healthcare Centre on 27 June 2017. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • Staff members knew how to raise concerns, and report safety incidents.We saw these were reviewed, analysed, and monitored to avoid re-occurrences.
  • Safety information was appropriately recorded; learning was identified and shared with all staff.
  • The infection control policy met current guidance and audits had been undertaken to review, analyse and monitor effectiveness.
  • Clinical audits were undertaken and we saw completed cycles enabling improvements to be measured.
  • Risks to patients and staff had been assessed, documented and acted on appropriately. These had not been reviewed by the practice to check for themes or trends.
  • Staff assessed patient care in line with current evidence based guidance.
  • Staff showed they had the skills, knowledge, and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity, respect, and involved in their care and treatment decisions.
  • Information about the practice services and how to complain was available at the reception desk and on the practice website in easy to understand formats. However, complaints were not monitored to understand any trends, or to avoid re-occurrences.
  • The practice was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour when dealing with complaints and significant events in an open and honest manner.
  • Patients said they were able to make an appointment with a GP and they received continuity of care. Patients also told us they had access to urgent on-the-day appointments.
  • The practice facilities, and equipment was appropriate to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and in addition, staff members felt supported by the GPs and practice management team.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Risks to patients and staff should be reviewed regularly.
  • Complaints should be reviewed to understand any trends, and avoid re-occurrences.
  • Improve the identification of patients who are carers and provide them with support and guidance.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice