We carried out a review of the data available to us about Rivermead Gate Medical Centre 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 Rivermead Gate Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Rivermead Gate Medical Centre on 2 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good with requires improvement for the ‘Safe’ domain. The full comprehensive report for this inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Rivermead Gate Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
We then carried out a desk-based focused inspection on 25 May 2017 to confirm that the practice were now meeting the legal requirements in relation to the breaches of regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 2 June 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
Overall the practice is rated as good, with the ‘Safe’ domain now rated as good.
Our key findings were as follows:
Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Riverhead Gate Medical Centre on 2 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows
The system for managing safety incidents and significant events required improvement. Although incidents were being reported, some staff were unsure what constituted a significant event, some investigations were incomplete and learning was not being routinely cascaded to relevant staff.
The practice followed current guidance in relation to infection control. A lead had been identified and regular audits took place where areas for improvement had been actioned.
Patient safety and medicines alerts were received and acted on at the practice. Where required the medicines of patients were reviewed and changed.
The practice had an effective recruitment process and staff were suitably qualified and experienced.
Not all staff who acted as chaperones were trained for the role and they had not received a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS check) or risk assessment. The practice assessed and managed risks to patients and staff. These included risk assessments for health and safety, legionella and the checking of electrical and medical equipment in use at the practice.
The practice performance against the Quality and Outcomes Framework was in line with local and national averages.
The practice had only carried out two clinical audits in the last two years. There was no other quality improvement process in place.
Staff at the practice received support and development through the appraisal. Staff spoken with felt supported and was encouraged to develop additional skills.
The practice was in line with local and national averages in relation to national screening programmes, including breast and bowel cancer, cervical screening and child immunisation.
There were a low number of carers who were patients identified at the practice.
Data from the national GP patient survey published in January and July 2016 reflected that patients were very satisfied with the services provided at the practice including the interactions between the GPs and the nurses.
The practice responded to the needs of their patients. The facilities had been adapted to accommodate the needs of disabled patients and those with limited mobility.
The national GP patient survey data indicated that patients were not satisfied with being able to get through to the surgery by phone and the appointment system.
An effective system was in place to record, manage and analyse complaints. This included cascading learning from them.
Leadership roles were clearly defined at the practice and staff spoken with told us that they were supported and involved in discussions about the management of the practice.
The areas where the provider must make improvement are:
Ensure that staff undertaking chaperone duties have received training and a disclosure and barring service check or a risk assessment is in place as to why one is not required.
Improve the system for managing significant events and safety incidents to include investigation and analysis, cascading learning and ensuring that all staff understand how to recognise and report such events.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
Improve the system for the identification of patients who are carers and provide them with appropriate support.
Take action to respond to patient feedback in relation to telephone access at the practice.
Improve the performance for the monitoring and review of patients with diabetes.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice