The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Ouse Valley Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Dumbledore Primary Care Centre, London Road, Handcross, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6HB (01444) 405750

Provided and run by:
Ouse Valley Practice

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

3 October 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Ouse Valley Practice on 3 October 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

7 December 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 1 February 2016. Breaches of Regulatory requirements were found during that inspection within the safe domain. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice sent us an action plan detailing what they would do to meet the regulatory responsibilities in relation to the following:

  • Ensure that systems for the management and security of medicines are robust and safe:
  • Ensure the actions taken as a result of the infection control audit are documented.
  • Ensure that they have a record of hand written and computerised prescription serial numbers to monitor their use. This must be maintained and kept up to date.
  • Maintain a record of equipment and room cleaning to assist with maintaining the cleanliness of the environment and informing future audits.

We undertook this focused inspection on 7 December 2016 to check that the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm that they now met regulatory 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 Ouse Valley Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This report should be read in conjunction with the last report published in August 2016.

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

  • We saw evidence to confirm that the practice had ensured all medicines were stored securely.
  • Fridge temperature records demonstrated regular monitoring of medicine fridges at the main practice and branch surgery
  • We saw evidence to demonstrate that the practice had a system for monitoring both hand written and computer generated prescriptions.
  • Systems were in place to check and ensure all prescriptions were authorised prior to dispensing.
  • The infection control audit had been updated and the action plan completed. Systems were in place to demonstrate room and equipment cleaning took place to maintain the cleanliness of the practice and reduce the risk of infection.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

1 February 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ouse Valley Practice on 1 February 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.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • Staff assessed patient’s needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had 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.
  • Patients said 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.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

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  • The medicine management systems were not always safe, for example, medicines were not stored securely, not all fridge temperatures were monitored correctly and the monitoring of prescription pads and printer forms was not robust enough to ensure their security.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • The provider must ensure that systems for the management and security of medicines are robust and safe.
  • The provider must ensure that they have a record of hand written and computerised prescription serial numbers to monitor their use. This must be maintained and up to date
  • The provider must ensure the actions taken as a result of the infection control audit are documented.
  • The provider must maintain a record of equipment and room cleaning to assist with maintaining the cleanliness of the environment and informing future audits

The areas were the provider should make improvements are:

  • The provider should continue to develop their systems for involving patients in providing feedback to the practice.


Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

7 November 2013

During a routine inspection

This inspection visit was undertaken by two compliance inspectors. The practice had a satellite surgery at Balcombe, three miles away, where patients were also seen. All administration, including appointments, were managed from the Handcross surgery. We were not able to visit the Balcombe surgery on the day of the inspection.

We spoke with nine adult patients and one child on the day of the inspection visit. We also spoke with two of the GPs, the practice manager, a doctor in training, the nurse practitioner, a practice nurse, health care assistant, data administrator and three dispensers.

Patients told us that they felt well informed and involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. They said that all staff were approachable. Confidentiality was protected. Patients were happy with the care and treatment they received and valued the local services provided.

We looked at how medicines were managed at the practice. We found that there were systems and processes in place to ensure safe medicine management.

Staff told us that they had training and development opportunities and that they were well supported by the provider. They felt well qualified for their roles and responsibilities.

We found processes in place to review and monitor the quality of the service provided. Patient surveys were conducted with the results analysed. There was learning from the processes and the information was used to improve the service.