• Doctor
  • GP practice

Cockfosters Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Heddon Court Avenue, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN4 9NB (020) 8441 7008

Provided and run by:
Cockfosters Medical Centre

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 21 April 2026 to 29 April 2026. Cockfosters Medical Centre is a GP practice and delivers practices to approximately under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states that the majority demographic of patients at the practice are white 65%, followed by Asian 14%, other 10%, mixed 6% and black 5%. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 8th decile (8 of 10). The higher the decile, the less deprived the practice population is relative to others. This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the practice, the context the practice was working within and how this impacted practice delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report.

SAFE: The practice had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines well and involved people in planning any changes.

EFFECTIVE: People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving practices. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people who took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.

CARING: People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and treatment. The practice supported staff wellbeing.

RESPONSIVE: People were involved in decisions about their care. The practice provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the practice took it seriously and acted on it. The practice was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. The practice worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.

WELL-LED: Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Leaders worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas.

10 May 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 Cockfosters Medical Centre on 23 August 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, however there was a breach of regulation identified which resulted in the rating of requires improvement for the effective domain. The full comprehensive report for the inspection carried out in August 2016 can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cockfosters Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced desk-based review carried out on 10 May 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulation that we identified in our previous inspection on 23 August 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good, including the effective domain.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had a failsafe system in place for the monitoring of screening results, a GP partner was the lead for the system. One sample taker had completed refresher training and the other sample taker was booked to attend training in June 2017.

  • The practice adheres to a carer protocol and has increased the number of carers identified to more than 1% since the inspection in August 2016.

  • The practice has created a prescription pad security protocol and maintains a register of serial numbers for all prescriptions received and distributed.

  • The practice has taken steps to improve patient satisfaction including securing a grant to update the premises. For example, the addition of an automatic door which has received positive feedback from patients.

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

In addition the provider should:

  • Continue to monitor the rate of screening samples unsuitable for analysis by the lab and ensure this percentage is in line with or below the national average of 2.5%.

At our previous inspection on 23 August 2016, we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing effective services as the system for monitoring the results of screening samples did not include investigation, learning and outcomes when there is a high percentage of samples being identified as unsuitable for analysis by the laboratory. At this inspection we found that a system monitoring the quality of screening samples had been introduced and a significant improvement had been made in reducing the number of screening samples that are unsuitable for analysis.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

23 August, 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cockfosters Medical Centre on 23 August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • The practice should improve the system for monitoring results of screening samples taken, we saw evidence that the practice failed to investigate high rates of inadequate cervical smear samples and take action.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure the system for monitoring results of screening samples includes appropriate action such as training for sample takers.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the patient record system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to them.

  • Review audit systems in relation to prescription pads.

  • Take action to improve patient satisfaction of the service.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

2 October 2013

During a routine inspection

Patients we spoke with told us they felt able to openly discuss the reason for their visit with the GP or nurse and that they were given sufficient information on any treatment required. One patient told us "I got all the advice from the doctor I needed." Patients on the whole felt they understood their doctor or nurse and felt listened to and supported.

Patients expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. A patient participation forum was in place and a recent survey looked at access to appointments and changes were made. All the patients we spoke with were positive about the appointments system. One patient told us 'I get an appointment same day, it's great.'

A patient described the service as "very friendly and caring". Patients' needs were assessed and care and treatment planned and delivered in line with their individual plan of care. Processes were in place to ensure the timely review of patients with long-term conditions at specified intervals.

Patients were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities to act when they suspected a child or a vulnerable adult were at risk.

All patients we spoke to commented that the practice was clean. Guidance had been followed in relation to infection control.

Patients were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.