Cambridge Medical Group

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 has changed to requires improvement.

The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to safe environments and infection prevention and control. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

This service scored 59 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

Leaders told us that staff received appropriate safeguarding training every 18 months to the appropriate level. On review of training records and certificates, training records were not always up to date. The practice leadership told us that external healthcare professionals were invited to regular safeguarding meetings. On review of meeting minutes, there was no evidence of external healthcare professionals having attended any safeguarding meetings. The practice maintained a list of vulnerable people and acted on concerns. Safeguarding concerns were discussed regularly and documented clearly within meeting minutes.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The service did not always detect and control potential risks in the care environment. They did not make sure that the premises and environment supported the delivery of safe care.

Leaders did not have oversight of the health and safety of the premises. The practice leadership were not able to provide knowledge of, or any risk assessments of, the ongoing building work within the premises. Health and safety audits had not been undertaken by the practice to identify any risks associated with the ongoing building works. Observations made during the inspection included visible dust in patient areas, the passenger lift being obstructed by a ladder, and stepping stools were needed for patients to access non-adjustable, raised examination beds in GP clinical rooms. The practice leadership told us that adjustable beds were available where needed in nurse consultation rooms. The practice leadership told us that leaders did not conduct checks or walkaround reviews of the premises. On the day of the inspection, the passenger lift was inaccessible for a period of time due to a water leak in the corridor.

Our assessment raised concerns regarding the security of the premises. The practice leadership told us that they did not have appropriate oversight of subcontractors working on and within the premises and were unaware of who was working within the building on that given day. In addition, the practice leadership told us that security alarms did not cover the entire premises. The Practice leadership did expect that security alarms would cover the whole of the new premises.

We did not look at Safe and effective staffing during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The service did not assess or manage the risk of infection. They did not detect and control the risk of it spreading or share concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The practice leadership did not have oversight of cleaning practices within the premises. Observations made during the inspection included a couch roll being stored on the floor, expired equipment being present in a clinical room, and 1 clinical room having no hand soap or sanitiser. In addition, clinician chairs and waiting room seating could not be disinfected appropriately due to damage to their surfaces. These concerns were not addressed on the day of inspection, as the practice leadership did not have access to the cleaning storage cupboard or a route of escalation to resolve this. The practice leadership did not have oversight of training completed by staff. We reviewed the practice’s infection prevention and control policy, which did not make reference to any audits or checks in place to ensure that patient areas were clean and appropriate for delivering care. At the time of the inspection, the last infection prevention and control audit that had been conducted was December 2024.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.