The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Weeping Cross

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Weeping Cross Health Centre, Bodmin Avenue, Weeping Cross, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 0EG (01785) 662505

Provided and run by:
Weeping Cross

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

24/09/2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out a focussed inspection at Weeping Cross Medical Centre on 24 September 2019 as part of our inspection programme. Following our review of the information available to us, including information provided by the practice, we focused our inspection on the following key questions: Effective and Well-Led. Because of the assurance received from our review of information we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions: Safe, Caring and Responsive from our last inspection in April 2015.

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

  • what we found when we inspected
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall and good for all population groups.

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Consider revisiting the constitution/ terms of reference with their Patient Participation Group (PPG) with regard to patient population group education.
  • Review the infection control policy to include onwards microbiological support.
  • Consider formalising the audit plan and identify which audits require repeat cycles.
  • Update the consent policy in line with current best practice guidelines.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

20 April 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of Weeping Cross on 23 March 2015. A breach of legal requirement was found and a requirement notice was served. After the comprehensive inspection the practice sent us an action plan to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to:

  • Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Fit and proper persons employed.

We undertook a focused inspection on 20 April 2016. We did not visit the practice but reviewed information sent to us by the provider. The inspection was to check that the practice had followed their action plan and to confirm 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 Weeping Cross on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Receptionists who chaperoned had received appropriate training in chaperoning.

  • Risk assessments and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks had been carried out for receptionists who chaperoned to protect patients from the risk of abuse. DBS checks identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable.

Overall the practice is rated as good and good in the safe domain. This recognises the improvements made to the quality of care provided by this service.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

23 March 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Weeping Cross on 23 March 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to require improvement for providing safe services. It was good for providing an effective, caring, responsive service and well led. It was also good for providing services for older people; people with long-term conditions; families, children and young people; working age people; people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health.

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

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to recruitment checks and chaperoning.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Most staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
  • 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.
  • Some patients had waited up to two weeks for an appointment with a doctor of their choice but appreciated that they could use the sit and wait clinic if they needed to be seen on the day.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • Appropriate arrangements were not in place for the recording, handling and dispensing of controlled drugs within the practice’s dispensary. Following our inspection we received written confirmation that they had stopped dispensing controlled drugs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by the management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients which it acted on.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

  • The practice had a large number of university students registered at one of their branch practices. They held a Fresher’s weekend once a year to support new students to register with them. Health checks were also offered to these students.

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

Importantly the provider must:

  • Ensure that receptionists who chaperone have been risk assessed to determine if a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required. DBS checks are checks to identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable.

Importantly the provider should:

  • Ensure that all staff who chaperone receive the appropriate support to help them in this role.
  • Introduce cleaning records to monitor that cleaning is carried out daily in line with the cleaning schedule.
  • Ensure that there is a system in place to identify vulnerable adults, children or people experiencing poor mental health with a high number of accident and emergency attendances.
  • Ensure that GP prescription pads are handled, stored and tracked in accordance with national guidance.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice