Courtside Surgery

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We looked for evidence that staff protected people from avoidable harm and made sure care was delivered from environments that were clean and well maintained. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The service had contracts to ensure the premises was maintained and secure. For example, gas and electrical equipment had annual servicing and medical equipment was calibrated in line with manufacturers’ recommendations. Safety alerts relating to equipment were shared with the relevant staff and acted on. Portable appliances were tested and maintained as per regulation.

Leaders and staff completed health and safety risk assessments and audits to identify and address environmental hazards. We saw copies of the most recent fire risk assessment and legionella risk assessment undertaken. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) filing system provided clear evidence of effective record-keeping practices.

The service conducted weekly fire tests, staff completed fire training and fire drills which included the evacuation of people. During the onsite visit, we identified that the building was designed so that no upstairs windows could be opened. However, the provider demonstrated good safety oversight; this design feature was fully documented in the service’s Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). The FRA confirms that the local fire service approved the building's protected staircase and lobby as appropriate mitigating factors, ensuring compliance with British Standards for safe escape.

Annual premises risk assessments were conducted, with the most recent version completed in June 2026. However, during the onsite visit, we identified an emergency pull cord in the disabled toilet had been entangled around the grab rail, compromising user safety. Leaders took immediate mitigating action by issuing formal corrective instructions to the cleaning team.

The service had a business continuity plan which was regularly reviewed and outlined how the service should continue to operate in the event of a disruption. For example, when the hot water stopped working, the service kept everyone safe by following the plan to handle the problem safely and legally.

The service was accessible for all people and included space for wheelchairs and prams. Hallways and corridors were noted to be clean and tidy and free from clutter. Staff offices were secure, and access was restricted from the public.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, and experienced staff, and worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. The service employed a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, which included GPs, nurses and pharmacists. As an established training practice, the service effectively structured its capacity to support, supervise, and meet the learning objectives of trainee professionals.

Leaders actively prioritised staff development, supporting individuals to progress into lead roles, and encouraging uptake of training opportunities, with staff feeling well-supported.

The service had an 89% completion rate for appraisals which focused on development and staff wellbeing. While this fell short of their 100% internal expectation, dates were already scheduled for the remaining staff. Records confirmed that staff received regular supervision, and checks were undertaken to confirm clinical staff renewed their registration with their professional bodies annually.

The service’s internal training records showed a 98% completion rate for mandatory training. However, during the onsite visit, we found that role-specific training completion records and formal competency signoffs for nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) were not being completed. After the onsite visit, the service submitted evidence of role-specific training having been completed. The service had also completed competency assessments for relevant staff and introduced a new audit process to ensure compliance with its own policy and improve the ongoing monitoring of staff training and performance.

The service followed safe recruitment procedures, which were in line with national legislation. We reviewed the recruitment files of 4 members of staff and identified all files contained the required documents. This included evidence of identity checks, review of qualifications, professional references and a criminal records check. The service also had a policy to keep people safe by completing risk assessments for new staff while they were waiting for their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check results should they not have been returned prior to starting employment at the service. During the onsite visit, we reviewed copies of these risk assessments, which confirmed that appropriate safety mitigations were in place for those staff members.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The service followed the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness standards and had cleaning schedules available, which outlined how staff should clean the building and its equipment. During the onsite visit, the reception health pod (facility for people to record weight and blood pressure in the reception area) lacked appropriate cleaning products for people to clean the equipment between uses. Although the pod was cleaned at the end of each day, there was a risk of cross-infection between individual usage. Following our onsite visit, the provider quickly resolved this by adding clear hygiene signage and dedicated cleaning products to the pod.

The provider maintained effective safety oversight through regular risk assessments and quality audits, including Legionella water testing. Any identified risks were acted upon quickly. To support compliance, all staff completed mandatory training in infection prevention and control.

During the onsite visit, the premises were noted to be visibly clean with the service having recently been redecorated, including the laying of new flooring throughout the building. However, hand sanitisers were freestanding rather than wall mounted, presenting a safety hazard as loose, unsecured bottles can be easily accessed and removed. Following the onsite visit, the provider carried out a hand sanitiser risk assessment and took action to fix the issues.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.