Yorkshire Street Medical Centre

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 people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.
 

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Yorkshire Street Medical Centre had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

People felt supported to raise concerns and felt staff treated them with compassion and understanding.

Staff were encouraged to raise concerns when things went wrong. During staff meetings, the whole team discussed and learnt from clinical and safeguarding issues. Staff felt there was an open culture, and that safety was a top priority. The provider had processes for staff to report incidents, near misses and safety events. There was a system to record and investigate complaints, and when things went wrong, staff apologised and gave people support. Staff reflections were built into the process for analysis of incidents. Learning from incidents and complaints resulted in changes that improved care for others.
 

Yorkshire Street Medical Centre worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

There were systems in place for processing information relating to new patients. The service worked with other providers to deliver shared care and when patients moved between services. The service worked with partner organisations to ensure referrals and test results were managed in the most effective way possible.
 

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They focussed on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The service shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

Safeguarding policies were in place and known to staff, who were appropriately trained in safeguarding procedures. The practice maintained a list of vulnerable people and acted on concerns working in partnership with other organisations.
 

Yorkshire Street Medical Centre worked with people to understand and manage risks by using a holistic approach. The care provided met people’s needs and was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

People felt that their care and treatment was discussed with them, they confirmed doctors, nurses and other staff made sure they knew how to manage their condition and what to do if they failed to improve.
Emergency equipment was available and regularly maintained by an external contractor.

Staff could recognise a deteriorating patient and knew of action to take. Patients were advised on risks related to their condition and actions to take if their condition deteriorated.
Staff had been trained in emergency first aid appropriate to their role.
 

Yorkshire Street Medical Centre detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Contracts were in place to ensure the premises were maintained. Health and safety risk assessments and audits had been undertaken and risks identified had been addressed. We saw that all checks and calibrations needed were up to date.

There was a business continuity plan in place which was monitored and regularly reviewed. We also observed that all areas, including public areas and seating were in good repair.

Yorkshire Street Medical Centre 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.

There was a range of clinical and non-clinical roles within the practice including a dedicated Mental Health Practitioner. We found training was up to date, learning needs and development of staff was managed appropriately, and staff were working within their agreed areas of competence.

We reviewed 4 staff files during the assessment and saw that the service followed safe recruitment procedures when employing staff, in line with national legislation. This included completing identity checks, reviewing qualifications, obtaining professional references, and carrying out criminal records checks.

People told us staff were knowledgeable, competent and good at carrying out their roles. Staff told us they were supported to increase their knowledge and learn new skills for the benefit of patients and in response to changes in best practice guidance and new techniques.
 

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The practice had a designated infection, prevention and control lead and all staff had had relevant training. Cleaning schedules were in place and followed.

Risk assessments and audits were completed, and actions taken to mitigate risks. We observed that staff were clean and tidy and promoted hand hygiene by wearing a uniform that ensured they remained bare below elbows while on duty.
 

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs,capacitiesand preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Staff involved people in reviews of their medicines and helped them understand how to manage their medicines safely. People knew what to do and who to contact if their condition did not improve or they experienced any unexpected symptoms. Staff received regular training, were competency assessed on medicines optimisation, and felt confident managing the storage, administration and recording of medicines. Prescription stationery was managed appropriately andsecurely.

Staff followed protocols to ensure they prescribed all medicines safely, and ensured people received all recommended medicines reviews and monitoring. Medicines including controlled drugs were stored securely and atappropriate temperatures.

Staff regularly checked the stock levels and expiry dates for all medicines, including emergency medicines, vaccines, and controlled drugs. Staff stored medical gases, such as oxygen, safely and completed required safety risk assessments.

The provider had effective systems to manage and respond to safety alerts and medicine recalls. Staff followed established processes to ensure people prescribed medicines with specific risks received recommended monitoring. Staff ensured they prescribed medicines appropriately to optimise care outcomes, including antibiotics.

There was a programme of regular clinical audits of prescribing that focused on improving care and treatment.