The Care Quality Commission
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  • GP practice

Archived: Dr Dixit's Practice Also known as Dr Dixit & Dr Kolla

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Galleries Health Centre, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE38 7NQ (0191) 502 6933

Provided and run by:
Dr Dixit's Practice

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

All Inspections

9 December 2015

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced inspection of this practice on 28 April 2015. Breaches of legal requirements were found. After the comprehensive inspection the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the following legal requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act (HSCA) 2008:

  • Regulation 17 HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Good governance;

  • Regulation 18 HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Staffing;

  • Regulation 19 HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed.

We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Dixit's Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had addressed the issues identified during the previous inspection.

  • Significant event and patient safety alerts were managed appropriately and the correct guidelines were followed.

  • Systems to manage and monitor the prevention and control of infection were in place and improvements had been made.

  • Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) had been completed for all staff.

  • Electrical and medical equipment had been checked and was fit for use.

  • Arrangements were in place to manage fire safety.

  • Staff had received the appropriate training required for their role and an appraisal in the last year.

  • There were governance arrangements in place and ongoing improvements were being made.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

28 April 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Dixit’s Practice on 28 April 2015. Specifically, we found the practice to require improvement for providing safe and effective services and for being well led. They were rated as good for providing caring and responsive services.

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

  • Staff were not clear about their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. However, the practice had a process in place for reporting them.
  • Some risks to patients and staff were not assessed and systems and processes were not fully implemented to keep patients safe. For example, there was no recruitment policy and the calibration of medical equipment was out of date.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. We saw a system of clinical audit to improve outcomes for patients.
  • Staff had not received training appropriate to their roles; for example, they had not received fire or health and safety training. There was an appraisal system in place; however staff had not received an appraisal since April 2013.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. Data showed that patients rated the practice mostly higher than the clinical commissioning group (CCG) averages for being caring.
  • Most patients we spoke with and those who completed CQC comment cards indicated they felt they could obtain appointments, including urgent appointments, when needed.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • The practice proactively sought feedback from patients and had an active patient participation group (PPG)
  • There was a vision and a strategy for the future and a leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. However, some of the systems and processes which should have been in place to keep patients and staff safe were not in place.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Ensure systems and processes are established and operated effectively in order to assess, monitor and improve the quality of service provided in carrying out the regulated activities.
  • Ensure staff receive appropriate training and appraisal in order to carry out the duties they perform.
  • Ensure recruitment procedures are established and that they operate effectively.

In addition the provider should:

  • Take steps to monitor equipment to ensure it is in date and suitable for use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice