• Doctor
  • GP practice

Much Birch Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Surgery, Much Birch, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 8HT (01981) 540310

Provided and run by:
Much Birch Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Much Birch Surgery 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 Much Birch Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

20 August 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Much Birch Surgery on 20 August 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.

8 November 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Much Birch Surgery on 8 November 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all of 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 and reviewed and the results shared with staff including lessons learned.

  • Safe arrangements were in place for staff recruitment that protected patients from risks of harm. Staff numbers were regularly reviewed to enable them to meet patients’ needs and plans were in place to increase clinical sessions.

  • There were robust on-going arrangements in place to protect patients and others from unnecessary infections.

  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training had been encouraged and planned to enhance their skills.

  • Patients told us they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their treatment.

  • A good neighbour scheme was provided by volunteers who provided transport for patients who found it difficult to access the practice and other social services such as; delivering food.

  • Information about how to make a complaint was readily available and easy to understand. Complaints received were dealt with appropriately and clear explanations given to complainants.

  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to assess and treat patients.

  • There was a clear and open culture and staff told us they felt well supported by senior staff. Management sought feedback from patients which it acted on.

  • The provider was aware of the requirements of the Duty of Candour and we saw where this had been applied concerning a complaint.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

There had been 26 significant events recorded from April 2015 until March 2016 and we saw that they had been dealt with appropriately. These were reviewed regularly during team meetings and quarterly during full staff meetings to identify trends and ensure that no further actions were necessary. All significant events were forwarded to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). This is a means of sharing lessons learned from safety incidents.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice