The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Archived: Freeman Clinics Limited Also known as Ponteland Road Health Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

169 Ponteland Road, Cowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE5 3AE (0191) 271 9030

Provided and run by:
Freeman Clinics Limited

Important: This service was previously managed by a different provider - see old profile

All Inspections

30 August 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 6 October 2015 and announced focused inspection on 2 November 2016 at Freeman Clinics Limited.

At the inspection on 6 October 2015, we rated the practice as good. However, there was a breach of legal requirements. In particular, we found that the provider had not ensured they maintained appropriate records in relation to the management of the practice and that sufficient arrangements were in place to share learning and improve safety following significant events. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the above regulation.

We carried out a focused inspection on 2 November 2016 to check whether the provider had taken steps to comply with the above legal requirement. We found they had complied with legal requirements; however, there were still areas were the practice should make further improvements. We told them they should continue to review their clinical staffing levels to enable sufficient and appropriate staff to be available to support the safe running of the practice. In addition, they should review their arrangements for the monitoring of staff training.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection, carried out on 30 August 2017, to check on the progress the practice had made with the improvements to maintain safe services. Overall the practice is rated as good.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive and focused inspections by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Freeman Clinics Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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

  • The practice had continued to improve the process for recording significant events. They now recorded full details of the significant event when staff initially reported it.
  • The practice had taken steps to address the areas we told them they should improve. The practice had improved the arrangements for the monitoring of staff training.
  • Although the practice still had issues with GP clinical resources, they had taken reasonable and practical steps to address this and improve continuity of care.

There were areas where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

  • Continue to monitor staffing levels.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

2 November 2016

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 Freeman Clinics Limited on 6 October 2015. Overall, we rated the practice as good. However, there was a breach of legal requirements. In particular, we found that the provider had not ensured that appropriate records were maintained in relation to the management of the practice and that sufficient arrangements were in place to share learning and improve safety following significant events.

After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the above regulation. We carried out a focused inspection on 2 November 2016 to check whether the provider had taken steps to comply with the above legal requirement. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Freeman Clinics Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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

  • The practice had complied with the requirement notice we set following the last inspection, however, improvements could be made. The practice had ensured that appropriate records were maintained in relation to the safe management of the practice, specifically meetings held at the practice. However, for some training required to ensure the practice provided safe care and treatment the records were incomplete.
  • They had arrangements in place to make sure that learning from significant events was shared with the relevant staff. Action was taken following significant events to improve safety in the practice.
  • The practice had taken steps to address the areas we told them they should improve.
  • The practice had reviewed their clinical staffing levels. However, staffing levels were still of concern as we found that on some days no GP clinical sessions were made available for patients as there were no available GP’s. The practice relied heavily on locum GPs, which impacted on continuity of care.
  • The practice had an effective system for reviewing and acting on safely alerts received.
  • The practice had Implement arrangements to check and record the immunisation status (for Hepatitis B) of all appropriate staff.

There were areas where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

  • Continue to review their clinical staffing levels to enable sufficient and appropriate staff to be available to support the safe running of the practice.
  • Review their arrangements for the monitoring of staff training.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

6 October 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Freeman Clinics Limited on 6 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Please note that when referring to information throughout this report, for example any reference to the Quality and Outcomes Framework data, this relates to the most recent information available to the CQC at that time.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • 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.
  • Most 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 had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • 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.
  • Staff had received training appropriate to their roles, although training records were difficult to access on the day of the inspection.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Ensure that appropriate records are maintained in relation to staff employed and the management and running of the practice, specifically in relation to staff training and records of meetings.
  • Implement arrangements to make sure that learning from significant events is shared with the relevant staff. Take steps to follow up significant events to ensure action is taken to improve safety in the practice.

In addition the provider should:

  • Consider whether current clinical staffing levels are appropriate and sufficient to enable the safe running of the practice.
  • Take steps to ensure that any safety alerts or national guidance is provided for all clinicians, including locums.
  • Implement arrangements to check and record the immunisation status (for Hepatitis B) of all appropriate staff.
  • Take steps to check that national guidelines, including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) best practice guidelines are followed by all clinical staff.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

17 September 2014

During an inspection in response to concerns

We inspected the practice following concerns raised by members of the public and some negative reviews on NHS Choices. NHS choices is a website which provides information on healthcare services in England. The inspection team comprised of a lead inspector, a specialist GP advisor, a specialist practice manager advisor and an expert by experience.

We spent time observing the way the practice worked and spoke with 17 patients The majority of patients said they were happy with the standard of care they received. Comments included 'They provide a good service', 'It's very good' and 'The staff are very, very nice.'

Arrangements were in place to handle medicines safely, securely and appropriately..

The practice sought the views of patients, staff and other stakeholders. Where concerns were identified, action plans were implemented and monitored to ensure appropriate steps were taken.