The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Central Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Central Surgery, Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, CM21 9AQ (01279) 603180

Provided and run by:
Drs P Keller, D Kearns

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Central Surgery 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 Central Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

24 March 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Central Surgery on 24 March 2020. 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.

11 May 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 Central Surgery on 16 March 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good with requires improvement for safe.

The full comprehensive report from the March 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Central Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 11 May 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 16 March 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 in all areas.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had a clearly defined and embedded system and process in place to manage the receipt and action of patient safety alerts and MHRA (Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) alerts.
  • Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) risk assessments for the cleaning products used in the practice had been completed.
  • Risk assessments had been completed for staff carrying out chaperone duties to determine if a check through the Disclosure and Barring Service was required.
  • The stock levels of controlled drugs were recorded in a bound book to avoid anyone tampering with the record.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

16 March 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Central Surgery on 16 March 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 with the exception of when staff members were required to chaperone without a Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) and when completing control of substances hazardous to health risk assessment for the cleaning products used.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patients said they felt the practice offered an excellent service and staff were helpful, caring and treated them with dignity and respect.
  • Patients stated they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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:

  • Implement a process to ensure that medicine alerts are acted upon and the process is audited to show continued actions are taken for patients to receive treatment in accordance with best practice.
  • Complete a risk assessment for the control of substances hazardous to health for the cleaning products used in the practice.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Complete the risk assessment for staff required to chaperone that have not had a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS check) to include that they will not be left alone with a patient.
  • Record the stock levels of controlled drugs in a bound book.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice