The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Barnoldswick Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Park Road, Barnoldswick, Lancashire, BB18 5BG (01282) 811911

Provided and run by:
Barnoldswick 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 Barnoldswick 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 Barnoldswick Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

13 December 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Barnoldswick Medical Centre on 13 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.

20th July 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Barnoldswick Medical Centre on 22nd March 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement as arrangements to monitor and improve quality and identify risks were not in place.

The full comprehensive report on the March 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Barnoldswick Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This announced comprehensive follow up inspection was undertaken on 20th July 2017. Overall the practice is now 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 assessed and 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.
  • The practice was above average for its satisfaction scores on consultations with GPs and nurses.
  • The health and wellbeing of patients in relation to their caring responsibilities was reviewed when they attended for a consultation or health check. They were directed to the various avenues of support available to them.
  • Information about the services provided 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 told us they found it easy to make an appointment with the GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice facilities were well equipped to treat patients; however access was restricted due to the structure of the building.
  • 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.

There were areas where the provider should make improvements:

  • Develop clinical team work by holding regular clinical meetingswith the practice nurses

  • Consistently obtain written consent for minor operations

  • Continue to identify and provide support for patients who are also carers.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

22 March 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Barnoldswick Medical Practice on 22 March 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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. However, learning from incidents was not shared with all staff.
  • Risks to patients were not always adequately identified and managed, for example there was only evidence of identity checks in one personnel file; emergency equipment was stored in different locations and some patient identifiable data was found in an unlocked bin outside the practice during the inspection.
  • Data showed patient outcomes were generally in line with local and national averages.
  • Although some audits had been carried out, the evidence did not clearly show that audits were driving improvement in performance to improve patient outcomes.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect, and told us they were able to get appointments when they needed.
  • Urgent appointments were available on the day they were requested.
  • The practice had proactively sought feedback from patients and had an active patient participation group.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

Improve the governance framework to support the delivery of the strategy and good quality care. This includes arrangements to monitor and improve quality and identify risks. Specifically, the provider must:

  • Conduct a risk assessment on the need for controlled drugs being stored within the practice and ensure they are stored securely.
  • Ensure patient medical records are consistently updated to include all relevant clinical information including clinical test results from secondary care.
  • Ensure patient identifiable information is stored and disposed of securely in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1988.
  • Ensure there is an auditable record of all communication with health visitors.
  • Carry out a legionella risk assessment and ensure an appropriate legionella control regime is implemented.

In addition the provider should:

  • Review the recruitment process to ensure that personnel records include evidence that identity checks have been carried out.
  • Provide staff with appropriate up to date policies and training to carry out their roles in a safe and effective manner.
  • Discuss significant events with the wider team to ensure learning is shared throughout the practice.
  • Review the use of clinical audit to actively improve patient outcomes through regular audit.
  • Review the storage of and access to emergency equipment and medication.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice

22 October 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection we spoke with four patients who had attended for appointments, one GP, the practice manager, a receptionist and a practice nurse. We also spoke with a patient who was a member of the Patient Participation Group (PPG).

Patients told us they were happy with the service and the treatment they received. They told us they were fully involved in discussions and decisions about their treatment and said they were listened to. One person said, "My doctor listens to me and explains the choices that are available to me".

People were generally happy with the appointments system. They told us they could request an appointment either by dropping into the practice, by booking on line or by telephoning the practice and speaking with a receptionist or a doctor.

The practice had developed policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse. Records showed staff had undertaken appropriate training in safeguarding. This would help staff to recognise and act when patients were at risk of abuse or neglect.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of service provision. We found patients' views had been taken into account in the way the service was provided.