The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

St Peter's Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Colbeck Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 4BS (020) 8864 4868

Provided and run by:
St Peter's Medical Centre

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 18 May 2026 to 20 May 2026.

We carried out this announced comprehensive assessment in line with our inspection priorities. We reviewed all key questions and quality statements as part of this assessment.

St Peter’s Medical Centre is an NHS GP service that delivers care and treatment to approximately 10,400 people under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states that the ethnicity of the service population is 40% Asian, 39% White, 9% Black, 5% Mixed and 7% Other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the service population group is in the 7th decile (7 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the service 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. The service was committed to continually evaluating and improving access, ensuring the service remained responsive to the needs of its population. The service recognised its vulnerable population, including people experiencing homelessness, and demonstrated targeted and proactive approaches to support those most at risk of experiencing inequalities in access, experience and outcomes. 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.

12 October 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 St Peter’s Medical Centre on 17 August 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. The full comprehensive report on the August 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for St Peter’s Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 12 October 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 17 August 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.

Our key findings were as follows:

At the inspection on 17 August 2016, the practice was rated overall as ‘good’. However, within the key question safe, areas were identified as ‘requires improvement’, as the practice was not meeting the legislation around ensuring adequate arrangements were in place to ensure care and treatment to patients was provided in a safe way in relation to the provision of medical equipment. The practice was issued a requirement notice under Regulation 12, Safe care and treatment.

Other areas identified where the practice was advised they should make improvements within the key question of safe included:

  • Complete and record a risk assessment of the practice’s decision not to stock medicine excluded from the emergency medicines kit.

  • Review staff records to confirm pre-employment reference checks are documented for all staff.

  • Secure with the landlord of the premises, the implementation of action arising from the latest fire risk assessment.

At our October 2017 inspection we reviewed the practice’s action plan submitted in response to our previous inspection and a range of supporting documents which demonstrated they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 12, Safe care and treatment, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The practice also demonstrated improvement in the other areas identified in the report from August 2016 which did not affect ratings. These improvements have been documented in the safe section, showing how the registered person has demonstrated continuous improvement since the full inspection.

Areas identified at the August 2016 inspection where the practice was advised they should make improvements within another key question of caring included:

  • Consider making information on display at the practice more visible to patients.

  • Review the arrangements for the storage of patient records to mitigate potential security risks.

At our October 2017 inspection we found significant improvements in the display and content of information to patients. Patient information leaflets, the practice leaflet and patient booklet had been updated and were available within the patient waiting room; the layout of the patient information board had been improved; the patient information screen had been updated and the practice manager trained in its use; and the practice website had been updated and its content managed at practice level to ensure information is kept accurate and current. We saw the minutes from the July 2017 PPG meeting, where members commented positively regarding changes.

The practice had also improved the security of patient records previously kept in unlocked cabinets and boxes. All such records, including confidential waste, were now stored in lockable cabinets or boxes and secure key management arrangements were in place.


Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

17 August 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at St Peter’s Medical Centre on 17 August 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.
  • Although risks to patients who used services were assessed, the systems and processes to address these risks were not implemented sufficiently in all respects to ensure patients were kept safe. There were some deficiencies, in particular with regard to ensuring the safety of medical equipment.
  • 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.
  • The majority of 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.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

The practice initiated several activities to engage with the local community and promote health and well-being. These included an annual health fayre organised with the PPG, hosting stands for a wide variety of health agencies. At this event visitors were able to attend presentations/workshops such as stop smoking, relaxation, and Fit for Life; receive influenza vaccinations and health checks; and it enabled important networking for the local community.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Review the system in place for the use and storage of liquid nitrogen to ensure that the practice is fully compliant with national guidance, including a risk assessment for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).

In addition, the areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Complete and record a risk assessment of the practice’s decision not to stock medicine excluded from the emergency medicines kit.
  • Review staff records to confirm pre-employment reference checks are documented for all staff.
  • Secure with the landlord of the premises, the implementation of action arising from the latest fire risk assessment.
  • Consider making information on display at the practice more visible to patients.
  • Review the arrangements for the storage of patient records to mitigate potential security risks.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice