The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Darwen Healthlink, Darwen Health Centre Also known as Darwen Healthlink

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

New Darwen Health Centre, James Street West, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 1PY (01254) 226600

Provided and run by:
Darwen Healthlink

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Darwen Healthlink, Darwen 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 Darwen Healthlink, Darwen Health Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

2 May 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Darwen Healthlink, Darwen Health Centre on 2 May 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

05/04/2018

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as good overall. (Previous inspection August 2016 – Good with requires improvement in safe domain. Desk top review January 2017 rated good for safe)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr E Ahmed’s practice (also known as Darwen Healthlink) on 5 April 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

  • At this inspection we found the practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
  • When incidents did happen, the practice investigated them and discussed them in a staff meeting. However outcomes of these discussions and lessons learnt were not clearly recorded.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Outcomes of investigations and lessons learnt should be clearly recorded and actions reviewed.
  • The practice should carry out a pro-active health and safety risk assessment.
  • Seek assurance from the building managers in respect of fire safety procedures and alarm testing
  • Take action to improve prescribing rates for hypnotics.
  • Records of staff training should be kept up to date.
  • The practice should consider establishing a planned programme of audits.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

5 January 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Dr E Ahmed’s Practice, for areas within the key question safe. The desk top review was conducted on 5 January 2017.

The practice was initially inspected on 25 August 2016. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (HSCA). At that inspection, the practice was rated ‘good’ overall. However, we found that the practice was not meeting Regulation 19 Fit and proper persons employed. We found:

  • The provider had not ensured that all appropriate pre-employment checks, including references and evidence of indemnity cover, had been carried out as part of the recruitment process for new staff.

  • When the decision had been made not to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service, an appropriate risk assessment had not always been carried out to document the reasoning behind the decision.

The practice supplied an action plan and a range of documents which demonstrated they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 19 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed.

Following this desktop review, we found the practice to be good in providing safe services.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

25/08/2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr E Ahmed’s Practice (also known as Darwen Healthlink) on 25 August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to the recruitment of new staff.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Patients said on the day of inspection that 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.
  • Some patients told us using CQC comment cards that they sometimes had to wait a long time for appointments. We saw that the practice had responded to patient feedback and adjusted the appointment system in an effort to address this.
  • 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 and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • Ensure appropriate pre-employment checks, including references and evidence of indemnity cover, are carried out as part of the recruitment process for new staff.

  • Ensure an appropriate risk assessment is carried out to document the reasoning behind the decision not to carry out a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service for staff.

In addition, action the provider should consider taking:

  • All significant events should be documented consistently in order that learning outcomes are maximised and thorough trend analysis can be undertaken.

  • Responses to complaints should be consistently documented to ensure patients receive appropriate information.

  • Formalise systems around how feedback from complaints and significant events is disseminated to staff in order to maximise learning outcomes.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice