• Doctor
  • GP practice

The Limes Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

8-12 Hodge Road, Worsley, Manchester, Lancashire, M28 3AT (0161) 790 8621

Provided and run by:
The Limes Medical Practice

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 11 June 2026. The Limes Medical Practice is a GP practice and delivers service to 4,848 patients under a contract held with NHS England. According to the latest available data, the ethnic make-up of the service area is approximately 89% White, 4% Asian, 2% Mixed, 4% Black and 1% Other Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 1st decile (1 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the practice population is relative to others. This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the service, the context the service was working within and how this impacted service delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report.

The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines well and involved people in planning any changes.

People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and treatment. The service supported staff wellbeing.

People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.

Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas. People’s experience commentary

 

9 March 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 The Limes Medical Practice on 21 July 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. The full comprehensive report of the 21 July 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Limes Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused follow-up inspection carried out on 9 March 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 21 July 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

The practice was previously inspected on 21 July 2016. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, the following areas were identified as requiring improvement because the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time:

Regulation 18 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Staffing

  • Not all staff had received an appraisal from an appropriate person.
  • Not all staff were supported enough in their role by the practice partners to enable them to carry out their role within a normal working week.

Our key findings during this inspection were as follows:

  • We saw evidence that staff were provided with an appraisal of their work
  • Discussion confirmed that staff received the support they needed.

The practice also provided evidence of other improvements identified following the previous inspection on 21 July 2016, for example:

  • We saw evidence which demonstrated that discussions about NICE guidelines and MHRA alerts were now included in clinical meetings and staff were given a hard copy of these documents which were signed by the GPs and nursing staff.
  • The nursing staff had changed their staff rota which enabled them to meet to discuss their work.
  • The system for GPs signing patient specific directions (PSD) had been reviewed so that they were completed correctly.
  • Although a fire drill had not been carried out due to a fault on the alarm system, one had been planned for the following week.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

21 July 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Limes Medical Practice on 21 July 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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • 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 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 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 all staff have regular appraisals.
  • Ensure all staff are supported in their role and that plans are in place to address concerns.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Review the practice nurse rota to allow a more regular cross over so that practice nurses are able to meet more regularly.
  • Review the system for the GPs signing patient specific directions (PSD) so that they are not signed retrospectively, and that the PSD template is completed correctly by the person administering the vaccine.
  • Consider adding NICE and MHRA alerts to clinical meetings.
  • Carry out regular fire drills so all staff are aware of the procedure during evacuation.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice