The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Shinfield Health Centre Also known as South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

School Green, Shinfield, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 9EH (0118) 402 9177

Provided and run by:
South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Centre

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 Shinfield Health Centre 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 Shinfield Health Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

19 June 2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced follow up inspection at Shinfield Health Centre on 14 March 2018. The overall rating for the practice was good. The practice was rated as requires improvement for providing responsive services.

The report on the March 2018 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Shinfield Health Centre on our website at .

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 19 June 2019 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. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good and is rated as good for providing responsive services.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had implemented an action plan to respond to low patient satisfaction regarding access and appointments at Shinfield Health Centre.
  • Actions had been taken in accordance with this action plan and in-house surveys were completed to assess the effectiveness of these changes.
  • Patient satisfaction regarding accessing the practice and appointment availability had improved.

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

14 March 2018

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Shinfield Health Centre on 13 September 2017. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the September 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Shinfield Health Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 14 March 2018 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 on 13 September 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • There was an appropriate system in place to respond to complaints and share learning arising from complaints.
  • There was an effective system in place for keeping emergency equipment and medicines needed for medical emergencies. Both equipment and medicines were regularly checked.
  • Staff received training appropriate to their roles.
  • The practice had an action plan underway to improve access to the practice by telephone and to appointments. Whilst the actions identified were underway it was too early to evaluate whether they would be effective in improving access to the service.
  • Staffing structures had been reviewed and recruitment campaigns launched to increase clinical staffing levels. Two part time practice nurses and a clinical pharmacist had been recruited.
  • Staff were involved in the management of the practice via a weekly team meeting attended by team leaders and the partners.

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

Importantly, the provider should:

  • Monitor implementation of their action plan and evaluate whether actions taken to improve access are effective.

At our previous inspection on 13 September 2017, we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing responsive services because feedback from patients was poor in regard to accessing the practice by telephone and obtaining appointments. At this inspection we found that the practice had clear plans in place to address patient feedback. However, the plan had commenced and there was further work to be undertaken. It was too early to evaluate if the plan would improve access. Consequently, the practice is still rated as requires improvement for providing responsive services.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

13 September 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

The practice is managed by a GP partnership. It was previously registered with CQC to be managed by an individual GP who remains as one of the partners. This announced comprehensive inspection was undertaken on13 September 2017 to assess whether the new provider partnership complied with regulations.

Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement. Specifically it is rated good for provision of safe, caring and effective services but requires improvement for providing responsive and well led services.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • The practice had clearly defined systems to minimise risks to patient safety however some issues relating to inconsistent management of medicines were addressed on the day of inspection.
  • Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.
  • Feedback from patients who took part in the GP National Survey was below average for several aspects of care and responsiveness. The practice had not addressed this feedback in a timely manner.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

In addition the provider should:

  • Ensure consistent systems to secure blank prescription pads are maintained.
  • Ensure medicines for use in an emergency are securely stored whilst accessible to staff.

Because the practice requires improvement we will re-inspect within six months to check that improvements have been made.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice