Sabden & Whalley Medical Group

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We looked for evidence that staff protected people from avoidable harm and made sure care was delivered from environments that were clean and well maintained. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The service had contracts to ensure the premises was maintained. Staff and leaders completed health and safety risk assessments and undertook audits to ensure they had identified and addressed all risks. The service had a business continuity plan which was regularly reviewed and outlined how the service should continue to operate in the event of a disruption.

The service had identified that fire drills were required at both sites as they had been just over 12 months since the last ones. These had already been arranged, and the service had a plan to carry these out every 6 months going forward. Although the serial number of prescription pads, which were stored securely, were held, the service did not record the serial numbers of prescription paper stored in the locked printers in clinical rooms. They told us they would start to do this immediately.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The service employed a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, which included GPs, nurses, Healthcare assistants, GP assistants and a pharmacy team. Leaders ensured staff were up to date with their training which the service had deemed mandatory and operated within their agreed areas of competence. The service followed safe recruitment procedures when employing staff, which were in line with national legislation. This included identity checks, review of qualifications, obtaining of professional references and a criminal records check.

The service usually assessed and managed the risk of infection, but we did find gaps.

The service had cleaning schedules available, which outlined how staff should clean the building and its equipment. The service demonstrated how these were monitored for completion to maintain oversight of cleaning arrangements. During our onsite visit, the service's premises and a sample of equipment reviewed was noted to be visibly clean. The service’s infection prevention and control lead conducted regular risk assessments and audits to ensure compliance and took action where necessary to mitigate any identified risks. Staff had completed relevant training in infection prevention and control.

GP rooms at the Whalley site were carpeted, which can be an infection control risk. The service had identified this as a risk. There was a plan to extend and modernise the service, and it was hoped that a decision would be made imminently. The service told us that should there be delays the replacement of carpets would be a priority.

Clinical waste bins were stored outside in a side street off the main road. This was accessible to vehicles and pedestrians. They were not secured so could be moved, and 1 of the 2 was not locked and contained clinical waste. The service told us they actioned this the following working day. The contractor replaced the bin with a faulty lock, and the handy man was tasked with securing the bins so they could not be moved from the service.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.