The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

North House Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

North House, North Street, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1HL (01765) 690666

Provided and run by:
North House Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about North House Surgery 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 North House Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

12 March 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about North House Surgery on 12 March 2020. 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.

16 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 of North House Surgery on 10 October 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. However, a breach of legal requirements was found, resulting in a rating of requires improvement for the safe domain. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for North House Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

On 16 May 2017, we undertook an announced focused inspection. This was to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements, in relation to the breaches in regulations that had been identified at our previous inspection on 10 October 2016. This report covers our findings regarding those requirements and any additional improvements that have been made since our last inspection.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • There were up to date and version controlled standard operating procedures in place to support staff working within the dispensary at the practice.
  • All repeat prescriptions were signed by a GP before medicines were dispensed.
  • There was a revised system in place to review those patients who were on repeat medication, or high risk medicines, prior to dispensing.
  • Processes had been implemented in the dispensary to record near misses.
  • The dispensing lead had initiated quarterly meetings with dispensing staff; there was a set agenda and minutes of the meetings were to be taken.
  • There was a system in place for tracking and recording blank prescription forms within the practice.
  • Patient Group Directives (PGDs) were in date and signed.
  • There were records of when checks were carried out in relation to vaccine refrigerator temperatures.
  • The practice had emergency ‘grab bags’ of medicines for GPs to take on home visits. These were kept alongside other emergency equipment within the practice.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

10 October 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at North House Surgery on 10 October 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • 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 mostly assessed and well managed. However, we found the arrangements for managing medicines, including emergency drugs and vaccinations, in the practice did not always keep people safe.
  • 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.
  • An understanding of the performance of the practice was maintained in most areas. However we identified oversight in some areas of medicines management. Despite the issues we identified we found effective arrangements in all other areas for identifying, recording and managing risks, issues and implementing mitigating actions.
  • 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 area where the provider must make improvement is:

  • Take action to address identified concerns in respect of the management of medicines.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

  • Consider the arrangements for monitoring the whereabouts of emergency medicines used for home visits.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice