The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Upton Group Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

32 Ford Road, Wirral, Merseyside, CH49 0TF (0151) 677 0486

Provided and run by:
Upton Group 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 Upton Group 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 Upton Group Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

18 October 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Upton Group Practice on 18 October 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

3 February 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Upton Group Practice on 21 July 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the inspection carried out on 21 July 2016 can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Upton Group Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 3 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 21 July 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.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had addressed the issues identified during the previous inspection.
  • The practice no longer had any controlled drugs.
  • The practice had revised its safeguarding protocols and now had its own additional internal safeguarding meetings and kept appropriate records to improve the management of any safeguarding concerns.

In addition, the practice had made the following improvements:

  • The implementation of continuous audit for patients on high risk medications. The practice was also part of a local pilot scheme for repeat prescribing to reduce unnecessary medications being prescribed to patients.
  • There was a revised significant event protocol. New significant events and any previous actions were discussed as a standing agenda item at staff meetings.
  • There was a new complaints process, in which all complaints were discussed at staff meetings. Any complaints which were highlighted as a significant event would be analysed appropriately.
  • The practice had updated its website in part to improve how the practice captured patient feedback.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

21 July 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Upton Group Practice on 21 July 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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

  • Staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns, incidents and near misses. However, not all incidents were recorded and reviews and investigations were not thorough enough.
  • Risks to patients were not always assessed and well managed. For example, those relating to safeguarding and controlled drugs management.
  • Complaints were not effectively managed.
  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity. However, the systems and process in place did not effectively promote and monitor the safety and quality of the service provided.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.

  • 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 areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure that the storage disposal and recording of controlled drugs are in line with the requirements of Regulation 12(2)(g) of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

  • Ensure safeguarding information is appropriately managed.

In addition the provider should:

  • Continue to review the system used to investigate safety incidents. To ensure the system is embedded and appropriate actions and learning are clearly documented and shared with the whole staff team.

  • Continue to review complaints to ensure any significant events identified can be appropriately analysed and actions and learning can be shared across the whole staff team.

  • Continue to monitor high risk drugs to ensure patients are receiving safe and appropriate care and treatment.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice