The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Herne Hill Group Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

74 Herne Hill, London, SE24 9QP (020) 7274 3314

Provided and run by:
Herne Hill Group 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 Herne Hill Group 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 Herne Hill Group Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

12 October 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Herne Hill Group Practice 12 October 2023. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Safe - Good

Effective - Good

Caring - Good

Responsive - Requires Improvement

Well-led - Good

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Herne Hill Group Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out this inspection in line with our inspection priorities.

How we carried out the inspection

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.

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 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.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice responded to patient needs. However, the GP patient survey showed patients were not satisfied with appointment access to the practice.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Continue to identify ways of improving patient satisfaction in relation telephone and appointment access.
  • Take steps to increase the uptake of childhood immunisations and cervical cancer screening within their practice population.

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

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Health Care

19 October 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Herne Hill Group Practice on 19 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Please note that when referring to information throughout this report, for example any reference to the Quality and Outcomes Framework data, this relates to the most recent information available to the CQC at that time.

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.

  • The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the Patient Participation Group (PPG).

  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. All staff had received training appropriate to their roles.

  • There was evidence of audit cycles to show that audits were driving improvement in performance to improve patient outcomes; however some audits had not been completed.

  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Information was provided to help patients understand the care available to them.

  • 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. Patients said they were not always given enough time during consultations, but we saw that the practice had taken steps to address this.

  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.

  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity, and these had been reviewed.

  • The practice held regular multi-disciplinary, clinical and general governance meetings and learning shared at these meetings was documented.

  • 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 practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they meet people’s needs. They received referrals from a local church and housing fellowship which ensured that people living in vulnerable circumstances were able to receive medical care to suit their needs.

  • The practice used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes, working with other local providers to share best practice.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice provided and won innovation awards for a dedicated young people’s clinic where young people could receive health advice, counselling and treatment, including sexual health and mental health services regardless of whether they were registered at the practice or not. The practice was able to demonstrate the positive impact that the clinic had on young people who attended.

  • The practice had a smoking cessation adviser to support smoking cessation and could demonstrate this had a positive impact for patients using this service. The adviser won an award from Lambeth borough council for having the highest quit rate in Lambeth.

  • The practice ran virtual clinics for patients with long term health conditions and they could demonstrate these had reduced unplanned hospital admissions.

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

The provider should:

  • Ensure all staff who act as chaperones are familiar with the chaperoning procedure.

  • Ensure annual appraisals are carried out for all staff and that appraisals are dated and signed.

  • Consider carrying out practice patient surveys to continually monitor patient feedback.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice