The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Springfield Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

856 Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, West Midlands, B11 4BW (0121) 411 0353

Provided and run by:
Springfield Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

02 October 2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Springfield Surgery on 2 October 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

We carried out an inspection of this service following our annual review of the information available to us including information provided by the practice. Our review indicated that there may have been a significant change to the quality of care provided since the last inspection.

This inspection focused on the following key questions:

  • Are services at this location effective?
  • Are services at this location well-led?

Because of the assurance received from our review of information we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions:

  • Are services at this location safe?
  • Are services at this location caring?
  • Are services at this location responsive?

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

  • what we found when we inspected
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall.

We rated the practice as good for providing effective and well-led services and for the following population groups: older people; people with long-term conditions; families children and young people; people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including dementia) because:

  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.
  • The leadership of the practice were highly motivated with clear vision and values supported by a comprehensive business plan. The practice had taken part in several programmes and pilot schemes. For example, in relation to improving standards of end of life care.
  • During 2017/18, due to unforeseen circumstances the practice had experienced some challenges with clinical staffing which had a significant impact on patient outcome data. The practice has since taken on an additional partner and GP in conjunction with the upskilling of nursing staff. The latest patient outcome data from the practice (not yet validated) showed a significant improvement and was more in line with the practice’s previous performance.
  • National data for 2018/19 showed uptake of child immunisations for children age one and two were below the 90% minimum target. The practice had worked with Public Health England to implement actions to improve and showed some improvement during the first quarter of 2019/20.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • The practice recognised vulnerable patients as a significant group within their population and had taken action to improve outcomes for this particular group of patients. This had included registering as a safe practice for those who may otherwise struggle to obtain primary health care, improving end of life care and establishing strong links with social prescribing schemes.
  • The practice participated in quality improvement activities for example in relation to the management of high risk medicines.
  • The practice promoted healthier lifestyles and wellbeing of both patients and staff through links with social prescribing and park run schemes.
  • There was a strong culture of compassionate leadership, ensuring the wellbeing and resilience of staff in order to deliver high quality care.
  • Staff worked well as a team, they supported each other, felt valued and were empowered and encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions to improving the service.
  • Feedback received from patients through our comment cards was positive and showed they were treated with respect, dignity and compassion by all members of the staff team.

We rated the practice as requires improvement for the population group working age people because:

We found that:

  • The population groups working age people required improvement. Uptake of cervical screening was below national minimum standards.
  • Although the practice advised us that they had taken some action to try and improve uptake, they had yet to demonstrate any clear improvement. Performance was largely unchanged from previous years.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

  • Leaders at the practice had set up a programme to support and empower their staff to look after themselves and improve their health, wellbeing and lifestyle with the aim that this would help support resilience, motivation, job satisfaction and retention of staff in the workplace. The programme consisted of six sessions which included sessions on diet, exercise and managing stress.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Continue to identify actions to improve uptake of cervical cancer screening and childhood immunisations.
  • Review practice arrangements for a freedom to speak up guardian and ensure staff are aware.
  • Review systems in place to ensure actions from recruitment checks and infection control audits are fully completed.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

11 January 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Springfield Surgery on 11 January 2017. 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 for reporting and recording significant events. We noted these were well documented and that thorough investigation took place.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed and these were well documented.
  • 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.
  • Patient feedback was consistently high and patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Patients spoke highly of all the staff at the practice via the comment cards, in the patient survey and on the day of the inspection. We saw where other professionals had commented on the high standard of care provided by the practice.
  • The practice had identified a member of staff to act as a Carer’s Coordinator whose role was to provide allocated time and offer appointments for carers to attend and discuss any issues they have, reduce isolation and provide information on other services that may be able to offer support. The practice had identified specific training for this role which had been undertaken and they demonstrated a genuine commitment to supporting patients who were carers. All patients who had been identified as carers were called by the co-ordinator to confirm their current carers status and 30 minute appointments were offered to allow them to discuss their needs and identify resources accordingly.
  • The practice worked closely with the Springfield Project and outside organisations and places of worship to gain a better understanding of the issues facing their practice population. The practice had consistently above average survey results and a high level of positive feedback from patients.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand and complaints were handled in a timely manner. 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 and there was continuity of care. Urgent appointments were available the same day utilising a GP triage system during specific times.
  • 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 and staff spoke positively regarding the support and leadership from management and the partners.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Improve the system for recording the actions taken in response to safety alerts.
  • Continue to follow legislation on the management of controlled drugs.
  • Continue to consider ways of increasing uptake of national screening programmes.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice