• Doctor
  • GP practice

Lindfield Medical Centre Also known as Dr Reader & Partners

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Medical Centre, High Street, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 2HX (01444) 484056

Provided and run by:
Lindfield Medical Centre

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

17 October 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Lindfield Medical Centre on 17 October 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.

25 October 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 7 April 2016. Breaches of Regulatory requirements were found during that inspection within the safe domain. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice sent us an action plan detailing what they would do to meet the regulatory responsibilities in relation to the following:

  • Ensure fire drills are undertaken at regular intervals.

We undertook this focused desktop inspection on 25 October 2016 to check that the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm that they now met regulatory requirements. A desktop inspection is when we request information from the registered provider to check that they have taken action to meet regulations without a visit to the location.

This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Lindfield Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This report should be read in conjunction with the last report published in August 2016.

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

  • We saw evidence to confirm that the practice had undertaken a fire drill and practice as indicated in their action plan.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

7 April 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Lindfield Medical Centre on 7 April 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.
  • Staff assessed patient’s 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.
  • 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.
  • Whilst the practice had regular tests of fire equipment and systems they had not carried out a fire drill since 2012.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • The provider must ensure fire drills are undertaken at regular intervals.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • The provider should put a system in place to monitor the planned training for staff to ensure gaps are identified.
  • The provider should review their appraisal record to ensure the views of the appraisee are fully recorded.
  • The provider should ensure that complainants are signposted to the next steps to take if they are unhappy with the response from the practice.
  • The provider should continue to develop their systems for involving patients in providing feedback to the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

3 July 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was a follow up inspection to check the provider had taken the required actions to meet essential standards following our previous inspection in April 2014.

During our inspection we spoke with five members of staff, including GPs, nurses and the practice manager.

We found that people were protected from abuse through the provision of suitable training of staff, the presence of clear policies and the availability of information to staff and people who use the service.

3 April 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was a follow up visit to check that the provider had achieved compliance with safeguarding people following our previous inspection in October 2013. During this inspection we looked at this one non-compliant outcome. We spoke with staff but did not have an opportunity to speak with people who used the practice on the day.

We found that whilst some action had been taken regarding staff training the provider was not compliant with the regulations.

15 October 2013

During a routine inspection

This inspection visit was undertaken by one compliance inspector.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of patients who used the service. We spent time talking with patients and observing interaction between staff and patients. We reviewed records and systems and looked at the environment and how this impacted on the service delivery.

We spoke with seven patients who had attended the practice on the day of the inspection. We spoke with a GP partner, a practice nurse, two reception staff and the practice manager.

Patient's feedback told us that they were happy with the care and service provided by the practice. One person said, 'I cannot fault the practice in any way.'

Patients told us that their privacy and dignity was well respected, they had time to discuss their health care issues, and had been fully involved in making decisions about their care and treatment.

We looked at the processes that the practice had in place to ensure the patients were protected from abuse. These processes had not ensured that all staff received appropriate training on all safeguarding issues. Staff spoken with understood that any suspicion of abuse needed to be reported.

Staff told us that they had training and development opportunities and they were well supported by the provider. We saw evidence of training undertaken and planned training.

The practice had procedures in place to review the quality of the service provided. These processes had ensured information provided was used to improve the service.