The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Archived: Dr Howard and Partners Also known as Pemberley Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Pemberley Surgery, 32 Pemberley Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 2LA (01234) 351051

Provided and run by:
Dr Howard and Partners

All Inspections

7 February 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 at Dr Howard and Partners on 21 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, however a breach of legal requirements was found. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us and submitted an action plan outlining the actions they would take to meet legal requirements in relation to;

  • Regulation 12 Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – safe care and treatment.

From the inspection on 21 June 2016, the practice were told they must:

  • Ensure a robust system is implemented to ensure that safety alerts are actioned appropriately by a suitably trained and competent person. Records of alerts received and action taken must be kept to demonstrate compliance.

In addition, the practice were told they should:

  • Develop systems to identify and support more carers in their patient population.
  • Continue to monitor recently adopted procedures for managing blank prescriptions.

The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Howard and Partners on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was a focused follow up carried out on 7 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 21 June 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Systems had been improved to ensure that appropriate action was taken in response to safety alerts to reduce risks to patient safety. Records of alerts received and action taken were kept securely.
  • Blank prescription forms were stored securely and processes were in place to record and track prescriptions within the practice.
  • The practice had identified 180 patients as carers (2%) and was actively working to support them.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

21 June 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Howard & Partners on 21 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • There was an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • 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.
  • The practice provided care for registered patients in 36 local residential, care and nursing homes.
  • 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:

  • Ensure a robust system is implemented to ensure that safety alerts are actioned appropriately by a suitably trained and competent person. Records of alerts received and action taken must be kept to demonstrate compliance.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

  • Develop systems to identify and support more carers in their patient population.
  • Continue to monitor recently adopted procedures for managing blank prescriptions.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice