The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Walkden Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

2 Hodge Road, Worsley, Manchester, Lancashire, M28 3AT (0161) 702 5310

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

23 April 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out a focused desktop review at Walkden Medical Practice on 23 April 2021. Overall, the practice is now rated good for providing ’safe’ services and remains rated ‘good’ overall.

Safe - Good

Effective - Good

Caring - Good

Responsive - Good

Well-led - Good

Following our previous inspection on 13 March 2019, the practice was rated Good overall and for key questions effective, caring, responsive and well-led but rated Requires Improvement for providing safe services:

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Walkden Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this review

This inspection was a focused desk top review carried out on 23 April 2021 to confirm that the practice had carried out its plan to meet the requirements in relation to those identified in our previous inspection on 13 March 2019. This report covers our findings in relation to

those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

How we carried out the review

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections and reviews differently.

This review was carried out in a way which enabled us to analyse information without spending time on site. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included

  • Requesting evidence from the provider

Our findings

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

  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
  • information from the provider.

We have rated this practice as Good overall with the key question safe now rated as Good.

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • The practice introduced and improved systems and processes to keep patients safe. This included taking appropriate action on patient safety alerts and ensuring recruitment checks were documented when employing new staff members.
  • The practice introduced a system where it had oversight of training completed by locum GPs.
  • The practice had an audited system to dispose of out of date consumables.
  • The practice formalised and documented staff appraisals.
  • GPs attended regular vaccine and immunisation update training.

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

13/03/2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Walkden Medical Practice as part of our inspection programme. The practice was previously inspected on 15 October 2014 and was rated as outstanding in effective, and good in all other key questions.

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 requires improvement in safe and good in all other key questions, and good for all population groups.

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

  • The practice did not always have clear systems and processes to keep patients safe. This included taking appropriate action on patient safety alerts and ensuring recruitment checks were documented when employing new staff members. The practice informed us after the inspection that they would ensure checks were carried out.
  • The practice did not always have oversight of what training locum clinicians had completed. The practice told us after the inspection that they would ensure training was checked.

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:

  • The practice should dispose of out of date consumables.
  • The practice should consider documenting and formalising appraisals.
  • GPs should attend regular vaccine and immunisation update training.

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

Rosey BenneyworthChief Inspector of General Practice

15 October 2014

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We inspected Walkden  Medical Centre on the 15 October 2014 as part of our new comprehensive inspection programme. This was the practice’s first inspection by CQC under its new methodology.  The practice was inspected under our previous methodology in September 2013 and was found to be fully compliant.

Our inspection team was led by a CQC Inspector and included a GP specialist advisor, a practice manager specialist advisor and a second CQC Inspector.  We have rated the practice as good.

Comments we received from patients were positive about the care and treatment they had received. Patients told us they are treated with dignity and respect and involved in making decisions about their treatment options.

Our key findings were as follows:

•   The practice was, safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

          Patients told us they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in care and  treatment decisions.

•             Staff understand their responsibilities to raise concerns, and report incidents.

•             The practice is clean and well maintained.

•             There are a range of qualified staff to meet patients’ needs and keep them safe.

•             Data showed us patient outcomes were at or above average for the locality. People’s needs are assessed and care is planned and delivered in line with current legislation.

•             The practice works with other health and social care providers to achieve the best outcomes for patients

  • The provider should  ensure that all staff receive supervision and an annual appraisal..
  • The provider should  develop ways of gathering patient feedback on their performance.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

3 September 2013

During a routine inspection

During our announced inspection we spoke with the practice manager, the reception staff and administration staff. We also spoke with two patients arriving at the practice. They told us, 'The doctors are very good and appointments are always available'.

We found the environment was modern, bright and clean. We saw all telephone appointments were dealt with by staff away from the main reception area to maintain patient confidentiality. We saw there were sufficient surgeries and separate rooms for consultations to be undertaken in private.

We observed patients arriving at the reception desk were greeted in a polite, respectful and friendly manner.

During our visit we saw the practice had all the relevant policies, procedures and guidance in place for staff to access if required.