• Doctor
  • GP practice

Brundall Medical Partnership

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Dales, Brundall, Norwich, Norfolk, NR13 5RP (01603) 712255

Provided and run by:
Brundall Medical Partnership

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

10 July 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Brundall Medical Partnership on 10 July 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.

21 June 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced follow up inspection at Brundall Medical Partnership on 21 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good. This was to follow up on actions we asked the provider to take after our announced comprehensive inspection on 16 November 2015. During the inspection in November 2015, we identified:

  • There was scope to improve the monitoring and auditing of fridge temperatures.
  • There was scope to improve the arrangements for the security of medicines stored in the dispensary to ensure they are only accessible to authorised staff.
  • Staff who undertake the checking of medicines in the dispensary were not appropriately trained, qualified and competent to undertake this role.
  • There was scope to improve the protocols in place for the handling, analysis, audit and review of dispensing errors including discussion at dispensing team meetings. In addition there was scope to improve the systems in place to record near-miss dispensing errors to identify trends and ensure these are monitored and actions taken where necessary.
  • There was scope to improve the protocols in place for the monitoring and auditing of the risks involved in receiving telephone repeat prescription requests, ensuring processes for producing repeat prescriptions are undertaken away from avoidable distractions to prevent errors.
  • Cascading, sharing and learning from concerns and complaints to all staff required further improvement.
  • Patients waiting for their appointments in some areas of the practice could not be clearly seen by reception staff to ensure patients whose health might deteriorate are overlooked by staff.
  • There was scope to improve clinical audits undertaken in the practice, including completed clinical audit or quality improvement cycles.
  • Audit trails to demonstrate which MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) alerts and safety updates needed to be improved.

The practice manager provided us with evidence which showed the practice had put systems in place to improve these systems.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make further improvements: Continue to risk assess and monitor patients waiting for their appointments in all areas of the practice to ensure patients whose health might deteriorate are not overlooked by staff

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

16 November 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Brundall Medical Practice on 16 November 2015. 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 to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.

  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

  • 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.

  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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.

  • 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.

    However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

    The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Ensure monitoring and auditing of fridge temperatures.

  • Improve the arrangements for the security of medicines stored in the dispensary to ensure they are only accessible to authorised staff.

  • Ensure staff who undertake the checking of medicines in the dispensary are appropriately trained, qualified and competent to undertake this role.

  • Ensure there are protocols in place for the handling, analysis, audit and review of dispensing errors including discussion at dispensing team meetings. In addition ensure near-miss dispensing errors are recorded so that trends of these errors can be monitored and actions taken where necessary.

  • Ensure there are protocols in place for the monitoring and auditing of the risks involved in receiving telephone repeat prescription requests, ensuring processes for producing repeat prescriptions are undertaken away from avoidable distractions to prevent errors.

  • Ensure that learning from concerns and complaints is shared and cascaded to all staff.

  • Ensure patients waiting for their appointments in all areas of the practice can be clearly seen by reception staff to ensure patients whose health might deteriorate are not overlooked by staff.

  • Ensure there is a programme of clinical audits undertaken in the practice, including completed clinical audit or quality improvement cycles.

  • Ensure there is an audit trail to demonstrate which MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) alerts and safety updates had been implemented.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

26 February 2014

During a routine inspection

Everyone we spoke with who was either waiting to be seen or had been seen had something positive to say about their visit and the practice generally. One person told us, "There's been lots of change over the years and all for the good." They also went on to say that the practice had not lost "the personal touch" over the years.

The practice offered pre-booked appointments, on-line booking of appointments and 'on the day' appointments. These would be with either a designated doctor or the duty doctor to help patients who needed urgent consultations. The doctors also carried out a telephone triage system where appropriate. Appointments with the nurse practitioner were also offered.

The practice took all relevant steps to maintain patients' privacy and dignity and we noted that the practice had a Patient Participation Group (PPG) which acted on behalf of patients.

One person we spoke with told us, "I'm fully satisfied and couldn't wish for a better doctors' surgery". They went on to tell us that they would have said straight away if things were not right.

We observed staff treating people with respect and being helpful and considerate.

The practice building was easy to access with ample parking. There was a toilet accessible to people with disabilities on the ground floor and baby changing facilities were provided also.