The Leven and Beeford Medical Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We looked for evidence that staff protected people from avoidable harm and made sure care was delivered from environments that were clean and well maintained. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The practice detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The practice had contracts in place to ensure the premises were maintained. The provider had contracts with external organisations to carry out health and safety and fire risk assessments. Staff and leaders undertook audits to ensure they had identified and addressed all risks. We conducted a review of the latest health and safety risk assessment, we saw how risks had been identified and were addressed. For example, it was identified that some fire doors within the extension at the Leven site did not have the correct signage. This was immediately actioned by the provider.

The practice had a business continuity plan which was regularly reviewed and outlined how the service should continue to operate in the event of a disruption.

The practice made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The service employed a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, which included GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, nurses and health care assistants. A review of staff’s mandatory training identified that a couple of members of staff had not completed all their training, the practice provided assurances that training would be completed as soon as possible.

The practice followed safe recruitment procedures when employing staff, which were in line with national legislation. This included identity checks, review of qualifications, obtaining of professional references and a criminal records check.

The practice assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

The practice had cleaning schedules available, which outlined how staff should clean the building and its equipment. The practice demonstrated how these were monitored for completion to maintain oversight of cleaning arrangements. During our onsite visit, the service's premises and a sample of equipment reviewed was noted to be visibly clean. We observed a chair in the waiting room of the branch site had a tear in the cushion, which if not addressed could have potentially posed an infection prevention and control risk. We escalated this to the provider, the practice provided assurances that a replacement chair would be sourced immediately. In the treatment room at the branch site, we found a couple of single use items that had expired, these were disposed of by the provider.

The service’s infection prevention and control lead conducted regular risk assessments and audits to ensure compliance and acted where necessary to mitigate any identified risks. Staff had completed relevant training in infection prevention and control. The practice had a practice maintenance plan which is used for renovating the premises, this included updating wash basins to lever operated taps at the branch site.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.