The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

St. Andrew's Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Sensier House, St. Andrews Lane, Spennymoor, DL16 6QA (01388) 817777

Provided and run by:
St. Andrew's 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 St. Andrew's 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 St. Andrew's Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

26 August 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at St Andrews Medical Practice on 14 May 2019 as part of our inspection programme. The full comprehensive report on the May 2019 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for St Andrews Medical Practice on our website at cqc.org.uk

The practice was rated as good overall, however We rated the domain of safe as requires improvement because:

• Patient specific directions (PSDs) did not meet legal requirements .

• The practice did not have an effective system in place to monitor the temperature of the dispensary fridges.

• The practice did not have appropriate systems in place to monitor controlled drugs.

This inspection was a desk-based review carried out on 28 August 2020. A site visit was not undertaken due to Covid-19, the provider has furnished us with evidence, and we have had a conversation with them to discuss the evidence they have sent us.

Our findings were as follows:

  • The practice is now using a new template for patient specific directions (PSDs). This is completed by the GP prior to the appointment that the patient attends with the health care assistant.
  • The practice provided documentation to show that the temperature of the fridges was being recorded.
  • The practice has amended their controlled drugs policy and procedure and have appropriate systems in place.

There were also areas noted in the previous inspection where the practice should make improvements:

• Continue to review the immunisation status of staff.

• Review the management of controlled stationery having due regard to national guidance.

• Review the training needs of each staff role and monitor refresher training as appropriate.

  • The practice provided documentation to show that there is a matrix for the status of staff immunisations.
  • The practice has developed a document which ensures the security of prescriptions (FP10s) Records have been made to show the movement of FP10s at every stage from their ordering to their destruction.
  • The practice provided documentation to show that there is a matrix in place to monitor staff training.

Since the previous inspection the practice has employed a nurse manager who is overseeing the clinical team, providing clinical supervision and support.

They have also employed a dispensary advice service to support the development of the dispensing team (who were both new to the role at the time of the last inspection).

14 May 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at St Andrews Medical Practice on 14 May 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

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 have rated the domain of safe as requires improvement because:

We rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services because:

  • Patient specific directions (PSDs) did not meet legal requirements
  • The practice did not have an effective system in place to monitor the temperature of the dispensary fridges.
  • The practice did not have appropriate systems in place to monitor controlled drugs.

We rated the practice as good for providing effective, caring, responsive and well led services because:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • The practice had systems in place so that safety incidents were less likely to happen.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs.
  • They had reviewed the skill mix of staff and the appointment system to improve access for patients.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

We have rated this practice good for all population groups except families, children and young people which we rated as outstanding.

We rated this population group as outstanding because;

  • The practice ran a dedicated nurse led weekly drop in clinic for teenagers. This was funded by the practice and was also available to patients who were not registered with the practice. The service provided targeted support to teenagers including matters relating to sexual health and drug and alcohol abuse.

We saw an area of outstanding practice which was:

  • The practice had taken a proactive approach in looking at the needs of the different groups of patients. They had made improvements to patients access in terms of skill mix of staff for appointments, a colour coded chart to ensure appointment slots were given the appropriate length of time and new telephone software They introduced an open access blood clinic. Patients suffering with mental health were assigned a GP if the patient felt it appropriate.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure that care and treatment is provided in a safe way.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Continue to review the immunisation status of staff.
  • Review the management of controlled stationery having due regard to national guidance.
  • Review the training needs of each staff role and monitor refresher training as appropriate.

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