• Doctor
  • GP practice

Mid Downs Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Marbles Road, Newick, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4LR (01825) 722272

Provided and run by:
Mid Downs 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 Mid Downs 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 Mid Downs Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

4 December 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Mid Downs Medical Practice on 4 December 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.

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating November 2017 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Mid Downs Medical Practice on 20 September 2018 to follow up on a breach of regulation identified at our inspection in November 2017. At our previous inspection we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services and good for effective, caring, responsive and well-led services.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice had rectified the issue in relation to security of prescription forms by fitting number pad locks to all rooms where these forms were used.
  • The practice had ensured they kept emergency medicine to assist patients who may be undergoing a diabetic emergency.
  • The practice had improved in the delivery of immunisations to children and had exceeded the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

23 November 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection February 2015, rating - Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mid-Downs Medical Practice (also known as Newick Health Centre) on 23 November 2017. The inspection was carried out as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.

  • The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.

  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

  • The practice recognised that the patient’s emotional and social needs were as important as their physical needs.

  • The practice ensured all recruitment checks were undertaken prior to staff starting employment.

  • Blank prescription forms were not always kept securely in consulting rooms in accordance with national guidance.

  • Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.

  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

  • The practice was pro-active in supporting patients, and their carers, with dementia and memory difficulties in the local community. The practice had recently set up a drop in ‘Dementia Café’ at the local village hall.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

  • Implement a secure system for the storage of blank prescriptions in consulting rooms.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Review the availability of emergency medicines to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British National Formulary and the Resuscitation Council (UK).

  • The practice should continue their work in improving the delivery of immunisations to children.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

26 February 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mid Downs Medical Practice on 26 February 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for the six population groups older people, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable, people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.
  • Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Specifically the provider should:-

  • Ensure that there is a planned on-going programme for undertaking clinical audits.
  • Ensure all staff are familiar with the practice’s values and mission statement.
  • Ensure that all waste bins in the practice are pedal operated.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice