The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Riverhouse Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

East Road, London, SW19 1YG (020) 8542 3105

Provided and run by:
Riverhouse Medical Practice

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Riverhouse Medical Practice 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 Riverhouse Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

19 July 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Riverhouse Medical Practice on 19 July 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.

17 August 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced focussed inspection of Riverhouse Medical Practice on 17 August 2016, overall the practice was rated as good.

We conducted this inspection following a comprehensive inspection on 10 December 2015 where breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 were found. The practice was previously rated as inadequate for providing safe services, and requires improvement for providing responsive services and being well led; the population groups were all rated as requires improvement.

After the comprehensive inspection, the practice submitted an action plan, outlining what they would do to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches of:

  • Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment);
  • Regulation 13 (Safeguarding services users from abuse and improper treatment)
  • Regulation 16 (Receiving and acting on complaints ); and
  • Regulation 17 (Good governance).

This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also where additional improvements have been made following the initial inspection. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Riverhouse Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected  were as follows:

  • Systems were in place to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
  • Processes were in place to ensure that the administration of medicines was safe.
  • Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand. The practice recorded both written and verbal complaints, and improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Processes were in place to ensure that staff kept their knowledge and skills up to date.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

10 December 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Riverhouse Medical Practice on 10 December 2015.  Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events, however, policies were not always followed in the reporting of safeguarding concerns and the recording of complaints.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed with the exception of those relating to safeguarding.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity, and whilst these were available to staff on the practice’s computer system, not all staff knew how to access them.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw  following areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice liaised closely with leaders of the local muslim community, which allowed them to gather up-to-date information about current issues facing the community, such as FGM, and to promote social inclusion. In response to the needs of this community the practice ran educational drop-in sessions prior to Ramadan for diabetic patients in order to provide them with information about how to manage their diabetes whilst fasting. This was attended by around 30 patients in 2015.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • They must put in place the correct and up-to-date legal authorisations required for staff to carry out their roles safely.

  • They must ensure that all staff follow their safeguarding procedure and that all concerns about the welfare of vulnerable people are escalated appropriately.

  • They must ensure that all complaints, including those responded to verbally, are recorded.

  • They must ensure that any out-of-date medications and vaccines are promptly disposed of.

  • They must ensure that processes are put in place to monitor that all clinical staff receive medicines alerts and patient safety alerts.

In addition, the provider should:

  • Review their policy on the storage of prescription pads and ensure that this is followed by all staff.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice