The Care Quality Commission
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  • GP practice

Archived: Colliery Medical Group

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Silksworth Health Centre, Silksworth, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR3 2AN (0191) 521 0252

Provided and run by:
Dr Kevin Stephenson

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

19 January 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 of Colliery Medical Group on 5 January 2016, which resulted in the practice being rated as good overall but as requiring improvement for providing effective services and for the population group of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). The full comprehensive report can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Colliery Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 19 January 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulation that we identified in our previous inspection in January 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

The practice is rated as good overall; including for providing effective services and for the population group of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Staff had received appropriate training.
  • The practice had taken steps to to develop a programme of clinical audit.
  • Action had been taken to improve the monitoring of the delivery of recommended care and treatment for patients experiencing poor mental health.
  • The practice had improved on their Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) score compared to the previous year.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

5 January 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Colliery Medical Group on 5 January 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients said they were able to get an appointment with a GP when they needed one, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice was integrated in the local community; managers were aware of the problems faced by some people and provided appropriate support.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • Managers were aware that waiting times for patients to access non-urgent counselling services were high and had looked into alternative options. Two counsellors from the Northern Guild for Psychotherapy and Counselling provided the service for patients as part of their study programme.
  • There was a clear leadership structure in place and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which they acted on.

  • Staff throughout the practice worked well together as a team.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Ensure all staff receive training appropriate to their includinginfection control, information governance and fire safety.

In addition, the provider should:

  • Put plans in place to develop the clinical audit programme and ensure clinical audit cycles are completed.

  • Take action to improve the monitoring of and the delivery of recommended care and treatment for patients experiencing poor mental health.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

11, 13 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We saw the practice sought the views of patients through comments boxes and the patient participation group, and that changes to the service had been implemented as a result of the feedback.

We spent time in the practice observing how it worked and speaking to patients and staff. Patients told us they were treated with care and respect and we saw positive exchanges between patients and staff. One person said, "I have never had a problem in getting a routine appointment." Another person said "It was always easy to book an appointment for both the doctor and nurse."

We saw the practice was up to date with infection control policies and procedures and when we spoke with staff they had a clear understanding how to reduce the risk of cross infection. The surgery was clean and well maintained.

Staff were provided with support, guidance and training to make sure they were able to carry out their role safely and monitored their performance to maintain the standards.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. We saw that the general practitioners were following national guidance as well as local Clinical Commissioning Group guidelines to make sure they were using best practice guidance.

Staff we spoke with understood safeguarding procedures.