The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Archived: Dr J Somers Heslam & Dr C J Griffiths Also known as The Old Exchange

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

East Street, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5PB (01480) 497477

Provided and run by:
Dr J Somers Heslam & Dr C J Griffiths

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

7 June 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr J Somers Heslam & Dr C J Griffiths on 7 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The appointment system was flexible and ensured that patients who requested to be seen on the same day were.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with 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.
  • The practice proactively managed care plans for vulnerable patients and had effective management strategies for patients at the end of their life.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure, staff felt supported by the management team and were an integral part of the running of the practice.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • The practice should ensure that there is an effective system in place to review patient safety updates from the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
  • Put systems in place to ensure safety alerts are received by the practice and evidence of actions taken are recorded.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

10 September 2014

During a routine inspection

Dr J Somers Heslam & Dr C J Griffiths (also known as The Old Exchange) provides primary medical services to patients in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

Patients we spoke with were generally happy with the service they received at the practice. They spoke positively about the staff employed at the practice. We received positive comments from patients who had completed comments cards prior to our inspection. Patients told us they felt that the practice was safe and that care was given to them in accordance with their wishes. They told us the practice was responsive to their needs.

The practice was well led and provided caring, effective and responsive services to a wide range of patient groups, including patients with long term conditions, those of working age and recently retired, mothers, babies children and young people, people in vulnerable circumstance s and people who were experiencing poor mental health.