The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Well Close Medical Group

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Well Close Square, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1LL (01289) 333240

Provided and run by:
Lindisfarne Health

All Inspections

14 January 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Well Close Medical Group on 14 January 2020. 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.

12 April 2018

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection October 2014 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Well Close Medical Group on 12 April 2018 as part our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice had systems to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
  • The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
  • The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care they provided. They ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. They took account of patient needs and preferences.
  • Patients were able to access care and treatment from the practice within an acceptable timescale for their needs.
  • There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation. The practice proactively used performance information to drive improvement.

The areas where the provider should make improvements is:

  • Put in place a formal system to be able to demonstrate when patient safety alerts have been read and actioned by staff.
  • Provide the appropriate level of childrens’ safeguarding training for GPs.
  • Take steps to ensure service users are treated with dignity and respect.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

9 October 2014

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Well Close Medical Group on 9 October 2014.

We rated the practice overall as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The leadership, governance and culture were used to drive and improve the delivery of high quality, person-centred care.
  • Patients reported good access to the practice and continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • Patients said, and our observations confirmed, they were treated with kindness and respect.
  • The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
  • The practice learned from incidents and took action to prevent a recurrence.
  • The practice safely and effectively provided services for all patient groups. The staff were caring and ensured all treatments being provided followed best practice guidance. The practice was well-led and responsive to patients’ needs.
  • The practice was in close proximity to the accident and emergency department. To encourage patients to go to the practice they offered accident and emergency slots at the end of each surgery. The practice worked closely with the accident and emergency department.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice