The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Essington Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Hobnock Road, Essington, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV11 2RF (01922) 470130

Provided and run by:
Dr Libberton, Ram & Gulati

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

09 June 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced review at Essington Medical Centre on 9 June 2021 to follow up on the findings from the last inspection on 13 November 2019. During the inspection on 13 November 2019 the practice was rated good overall and for the key questions safe, effective, caring and, responsive and rated requires improvement for providing a well-led service.

Due to assurances we received from our review of information, we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions: safe, effective, caring and responsive from our last inspection in November 2019.

Following our review of the information available to us, including information provided by the practice, we focused our inspection on the following key question: well-led.

Overall, the practice is rated as Good. Following our review on 9 June 2021, it is rated as good in safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, as well as good in all of the population groups.

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Essington Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this review

This review was a review of information without undertaking a site visit inspection to follow up on:

  • Well-led domain
  • The breach of regulations identified in the previous inspection
  • Areas for improvement identified in the previous inspection
  • Ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection which included the safe, effective, caring and responsive domains.

How we carried out the review

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our reviews differently.

This review was carried out in a way which did not involve visiting the practice. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing
  • Requesting evidence from the provider

Our findings

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 had actioned and put measures in place to comply with the Regulatory breach.
  • Although the advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) no longer saw patients at this practice, a risk assessment had been completed for when they worked without GP supervision on site.
  • The PAT testing had been completed in January 2020, and repeated on 8 June 2021, following a delay due to the pandemic. The premises electrical safety check was booked for 14 July 2021.
  • Risk assessments had been completed for emergency medicines not held at the practice.
  • A formal process had been introduced for documenting that registration checks of clinical staff had been undertaken and were regularly monitored.
  • An staff immunisation history form had been introduced and action taken when required, to ensure staff were up to date with immunisations.
  • Systems were in place to monitor that staff were up to date with their essential training, although due to the pandemic some training was overdue. Action was being taken to support staff to complete any outstanding training.
  • The practice had developed a succession plan.
  • The mission statement was displayed around the practice and staff had received a copy.
  • The practice understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to submitting notifications to the Commission.

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

13 November 2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Essington Medical Centre on 13 November 2019 due to the length of time since the last inspection. Following our review of the information available to us, including information provided by the practice, we focused our inspection on the following key questions: Safe, Effective and Well-Led. Because of the assurance received from our review of information we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions: Caring and Responsive.

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 previously carried out a comprehensive inspection at Essington Medical Centre on 1 April 2015. The overall rating was Good. The report on the April 2015 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Essington Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

We have rated this practice as good overall and good for the 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 and was planned and delivered according to evidence-based guidelines.
  • The practice worked together and with other organisations to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • The practice understood the needs of its population and tailored services in response to those needs.
  • Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care, support and treatment, however, a small number of staff had not completed all essential training.
  • There was evidence of quality improvement.
  • Patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and any decisions about their treatment.
  • Staff enjoyed working at the practice and felt supported by the leadership team.
  • Leaders were visible, approachable and understood the strengths and challenges relating to the quality and future of services.

We rated the practice as requires improvement for providing well-led services because:.

  • The provider had governance structures and systems in place however, these did not ensure effective governance.
  • Arrangements for identifying, managing and mitigating risks were not always effective.
  • The practice staff training matrix demonstrated some gaps in essential training.
  • CQC had not been notified of the absence of a registered person as required.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations

are:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Develop a business and succession plan and share the mission statement with staff and patients.

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

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice


1 April 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Essington Medical Centre, on 1 April 2015. Overall Essington Medical Centre is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. It was also good for providing services for older people, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

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.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.
  • Not all staff had received training specific to their role in safeguarding, infection control and the role of a chaperone.
  • 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.
  • Patients said that on most occasions 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.

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

Importantly the provider should:

  • Review systems in place to ensure that all staff have received appropriate training in safeguarding, infection control and the role of a chaperone.
  • Complete a comprehensive infection control audit.
  • Review recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff who are involved in the direct care of patients such as providing treatment or chaperone duties are risk assessed to determine if a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice