The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Woodlands Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Woodlands Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0BB (01235) 517760

Provided and run by:
Woodlands Medical Centre

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Woodlands Medical Centre 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 Woodlands Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

3 December 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Woodlands Medical Centre on 3 December 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.

We did not visit as part of this inspection

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a desk top review of Woodlands Medical Centre in September 2016. We requested information from the practice to be sent to us so we could undertake a review of evidence. This was following a focussed inspection in May 2016 where we identified concerns with the monitoring of medicines. We issued a requirement notice and rated the practice as requires improvement in the safe domain following that inspection. At this inspection we found:

  • The cold chain and cold medicines storage policy had been reviewed and changes made to improve monitoring of fridges.
  • We saw that fridges were within ranges nearly all of the time. Where they were out of range the practice had ensured the timeframes were not sufficient to compromise the quality and efficacy of the vaccines.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

24 May 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr BJ Batty & Partners, Woodlands Medical Centre on 8 September 2015. We found improvements were required in providing safe and responsive services. We issued requirement notices and rated the practice as requires improvement overall. We undertook a focussed inspection on 24 May 2016 to check that improvements had been made to the service where required. The practice is rated as good overall, but requirements are still required in providing safe services.

  • Infection control guidance was followed. An infection control policy and related audit tool was in place.
  • Emergency medicines were stored appropriately, stock checking and expiry date checks were in place.
  • A cold chain and cold medicines storage policy was in place, but this was not always followed by staff.
  • Improved monitoring of the appointment system had identified improvements which the practice had acted on to improve accessibility for patients.

There were areas of practice where the provider must make improvements:

  • Ensure the storage of vaccines follows the practice’s protocols and national standards for safe storage of medicines.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

8 September 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr BJ Batty & Partners, Woodlands Medical Centre on 8 September 2015. Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Learning from incidents was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
  • Complaints, both verbal and written, were responded to openly and thoroughly investigated.
  • Not all risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including infection control and medicines management.
  • Staff told us they received training and support to ensured they were safe and able to fulfil their roles. There was not adequate monitoring of training to ensure core knowledge was updated for staff.
  • Recruitment of staff ensured they were safe and fit to work with patients.
  • The practice was clean, but some maintenance issues were noted which potentially affected infection control.
  • Patient care was planned and delivered in line with national guidance and best practice.
  • There was monitoring of patient care and a programme of clinical audit. The number of audits was small considering the size of the practice’s population and number of GPs.
  • 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.
  • Patients said they found it difficult to make an appointment with a named GP. The practice was aware of these concerns and was in the process of trying to improve the appointment system.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. The premises were modern and enabled access to those with limited mobility.
  • 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.
  • Patient views were sought and acted on in all key decisions undertaken by the practice, including those of the large reference group and patient group which met regularly.

There were areas of practice where the provider must make improvements:

  • Implement a comprehensive policy and audit tool for infection control (this should include a sharps injury protocol) and ensure that any risks identified with cleaning and infection control are acted on.
  • Improve medicines protocols and policies to ensure national guidance is followed.
  • Emergency medicines must be stored in an area known to all staff and the list used to monitor the medicines must accurately reflect those kept on-site. Storage of vaccines must ensure their effectiveness and safe use.
  • Continue to review and amend the appointment system to ensure patients are able to access appointments.

Additionally the provider should:

  • Identify if further clinical audit would enhance patient outcomes
  • Review the training logs used to monitor staff training to ensure all courses identified as necessary by the practice are undertaken by staff.
  • Risk assess the emergency medicines available to GPs at the both Woodlands Medical Practice and Blewbury Practice sites. Namely the availability of adrenaline.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice