The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Dr Gopal Sinha

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Grove Park Surgery, 116 Sutton Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9AP (01622) 753211

Provided and run by:
Dr Gopal Sinha

All Inspections

18 July 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Gopal Sinha on 20 October 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe and well-led services and rated as good for providing effective, caring and responsive services. The full comprehensive report on the October 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Gopal Sinha on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection conducted on 18 July 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 on 20 October 2016. 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:

  • The standards of cleanliness had improved. All infection control risks had been identified and mitigated. Audits of infection control had been carried out by a lead with appropriate training.

  • Systems and processes had been implemented to ensure that recruitment checks were carried out for all locum staff.

  • Risk assessments had been carried out and risks appropriately mitigated for staff working alone within the practice.

  • A system had been implemented to ensure that reviews of patients on high risk medicines were being undertaken routinely.

  • The practice had established and implemented a system to routinely monitor and audit the use of blank prescription pads.

The practice had also taken appropriate action to address areas where they should make improvements:

  • Diabetes performance indicators had improved by 30% on last year’s Quality and Outcomes Framework data.

  • Action had been taken to address low satisfaction scores relating to GP consultations and access to the practice. The National Patient GP Survey results for 2016/17 showed an increase of between 5 – 10% increases on last year’s results.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

20 October 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Gopal Sinha (also known as Grove Park Surgery) on 20 October 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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 for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were generally assessed and well managed, although risks relating to staff lone working, medicine and prescription management, infection control and prevention issues that had not been identified and managed appropriately.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had generally been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment, however the infection control lead had not attended the appropriate level of infection control training.
  • Quality outcome performance was generally comparable to local and national averages, with the exception of diabetes where performance was below average.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect; however the practice performed below average in the national GP patient survey in relation to some aspects of GP consultations including feeling involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. The practice had a thorough approach to complaints management including the identification of learning and open discussion with staff.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice had sufficient facilities and was equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure that standards of cleanliness are improved and that regular audits of infection control are carried out by a lead with the appropriate training, as well as ensuring that all infection control risks are identified and mitigated.
  • Ensure that recruitment checks are held for locum staff.
  • Ensure that risk assessments are carried out and risks appropriately mitigated for staff working alone within the practice.
  • Ensure that appropriate logs are kept of all prescriptions within the practice.
  • Ensure that there is a system in place to monitor patients on high risk medicines.
  • Ensure that prescription forms held within the practice are monitored.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Implement a plan in order to help improve diabetes performance.
  • Continue to take action to address low satisfaction scores relating to GP consultations.
  • Continue to take action to address low satisfaction scores relating to access.


Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice