The Care Quality Commission
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  • GP practice

Beech Hill Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

278 Gidlow Lane, Beech Hill, Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN6 7PD (01942) 821899

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

9 November 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced inspection at Beech Hill Medical Practice on 9 November 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as Good with the following key question ratings:

Safe -Good

Effective -Good

Caring – Good (rating awarded at the inspection 1 June 2016).

Responsive – Good (rating awarded at the inspection 1 June 2016)

Well-led - Good

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

Why we carried out this inspection

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.

How we carried out the inspection

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 differently.

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This inspection included:

A site visit by the lead inspector.

Conducting staff interviews remotely and on site.

Completing clinical searches remotely on the practice’s patient records system and discussing findings with the provider.

Reviewing patient records remotely to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.

Requesting evidence from the provider.

Gaining feedback from staff by using staff questionnaires.

Our findings

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 Good overall

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice adjusted how it delivered services to meet the needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Continue to work with patients to encourage the uptake of cervical screening.

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

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services

17 May 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Beech Hill Medical Practice on 17 May 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • 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. However at peak times telephone access was not timely.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • 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.

We saw areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice had a nurse reception and nursing team based away from the main reception. They provided nurse led chronic disease management and monitoring. This was an experienced and stable team that provided a high standard of patient care, confidentiality and good continuity of care for all population groups who used this service.
  • The practice had a well-established walk in clinic for under five year olds. There were no appointments needed and parents knew they could bring their unwell child to the practice and they will be seen on that day.

The areas where the provider should make improvements:

  • Introduce a more structured programme of clinical audits and ensure the clinical audit cycle is completed for all audits in support of the practice quality improvement programme.
  • Review the current system in place for monitoring and disseminating any alerts that the practice receives to provide assurances that all relevant staff are aware of them.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice