• Doctor
  • GP practice

Cheam Family Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Parkside, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey, SM3 8BS (020) 8722 5758

Provided and run by:
Cheam Family Practice

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 15 – 27 May 2026. This assessment was carried out because of the length of time since we last inspected. The Knoll (known as Cheam Family Practice) is a GP practice and delivers services to approximately 13,909 patients under a contract held with NHS England.

Cheam Family Practice has two surgeries: The Knoll, Parkside, Cheam and a branch surgery at 263-265 Gander Green Lane, Sutton. The National General Practice Profiles states that the ethnicity of the practice population is 71% White, 18% Asian, 4% Mixed, 3% Black and 3% Other.

Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 10th decile (10 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the practice 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 to make 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. 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.

10 October 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 the practice on 16 February 2016. Breaches of legal requirements were found. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach of regulation 12(1) (2) Safe care and treatment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

We undertook this desk-based focussed inspection on 10 October 2016 to check that the practice had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met the legal requirements. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also where additional improvements have been made following the initial inspection. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cheam Family Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Overall the practice is rated as Good. Specifically, following the focussed inspection we found the practice to be good for providing safe services.

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

  • Risks to patients were assessed and well-managed, including those related to recruitment checks, monitoring of vaccines stored on the refrigerators, monitoring of cleaning of the premises and fire safety.

There were areas of the practice where the provider should make improvements:

  • Improve the practice systems for managing, monitoring and improving outcomes for diabetic patients.
  • Improve recording of minutes for multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure patients are monitored effectively.
  • Consider improving accessibility in the patient toilet at the Gander Green Lane site for patients with restricted mobility.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

16 February 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cheam Family Practice visiting both the practice and branch site on 16 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.
  •  Most risks to patients were assessed and well managed with the exception of thorough recruitment checks.
  • Staff assessed patients’ 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 were very satisfied with the level of service received. They said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services 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 adequate 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.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure that appropriate recruitment checks are undertaken and recorded prior to employment for all staff.

In addition the provider should:

  • Improve systems for management and monitoring of risks, specifically those associated with medicines stored in the refrigerators at both practice sites, those for monitoring cleaning at both sites and systems for regular fire drills and evacuation at the branch practice.
  •  Improve the practice systems for managing, monitoring and improving outcomes for diabetic patients.
  • Improve recording of minutes for multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure patients are monitored effectively.
  •  Improve the information available in patient waiting areas for carers and about the complaints process.
  • Ensure that lessons learnt and actions from complaints are clearly documented and cascaded to relevant staff.
  •  Consider improving accessibility in the patient toilet at the Gander Green Lane site for patients with restricted mobility.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice