• Doctor
  • GP practice

Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group Also known as Drs Wolfle and James trading as

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Hartfield Village Surgery, Old Crown Farm, East Sussex, Kent, TN7 4AD (01892) 863326

Provided and run by:
Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group 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 Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group, you can give feedback on this service.

18 March 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group on 18 March 2020. 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.

8 February 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group on 8 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Following this inspection the practice sent to us an action plan detailing what they would do to meet the legal requirements in relation to the following:

  • Ensuring that medicines management systems are reviewed to protect patients against the risk of unsafe care and treatment.

  • Ensuring that all safety assessments are undertaken and reviewed as required.

  • Ensuring that appropriate training for staff is completed and monitored. This includes training in respect of fire safety.

Additionally we had found that:

  • The provider needed to continue in actively identifying patients that have caring responsibilities within the patient list.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 8 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The provider had reviewed all aspects of medicines management and devised new standard operating procedures which all appropriate staff had received a copy of and signed to acknowledge this.

  • The provider had undertaken the assessments required for electrical installation and fire risk and acted upon the advice within these.

  • The provider had ensured all staff had undertaken fire training as required.

  • The provider had increased the number of carers identified within their list from 40 carers to 60 carers. An increase of 50%.

    Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

8 June 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group on 8 June 2016. 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.
  • Certain areas of building management had not been checked at the appropriate intervals and the provider had not always acted on safety recommendations made as a result of reviews.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment, though gaps in training were identified in relation to fire safety.
  • 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. 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 named GP and 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.
  • 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 one area of outstanding practice:

  • The two partner GPs disclosed their personal contact details to all palliative care patients so as to ensure that these patients could be supported fully and to ensure they received the best care available.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • Ensure that medicines management systems are reviewed to protect patients against the risk of unsafe care and treatment.

  • To ensure that all safety assessments are undertaken and reviewed as required.

  • To ensure that appropriate training for staff is completed and monitored. This includes training in respect of fire safety.

The area where the provider should make improvements is:

• To actively identify patients that have caring responsibilities within the patient list.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice