The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

The Avenue Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

51-53 Victoria Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M9 6BA (0161) 720 9441

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

19 September 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about The Avenue Medical Centre on 19 September 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.

14 December 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We undertook this focused inspection of at The Avenue Medical Centre on 14 December 2016 for one area within the key question safe.

We found the practice to be good in providing safe services. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

The practice was previously inspected on 1 March 2016. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection, the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, overview of safety systems and processes was identified as requires improvement, as the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time; Regulation 17 Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Good Governance.

We found the following issues:

  • There was no written procedure for the cold chain procedure.
  • There was no designated lead or procedure for the monitoring and checking of vaccinations and emergency medicines.
  • There was no use of risk assessment associated with clinical waste and storage, storage of liquid nitrogen and all vertical blinds.

On this inspection we reviewed a range of documents which demonstrated they were now meeting the requirements of Regulation 17 Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Good Governance.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

1 March 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Avenue Medical Centre on 1 March 2016. Overall the practice is 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.
  • The practice had a clinical lead structure in place which supported their patients and staff in areas of: safeguarding, human resources (HR), finance and education.
  • Patients said they found it very easy to make an appointment and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. However patients found the telephone system poor.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • There were areas where the practice needed to review and risk assesses in relation to infection control and storage of medical equipment.
  • 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.
  • The practice had outgrown the current premises and had ensured it was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw a three of areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice initiated insulin in the community, something which was normally commenced in hospital.This enabled patients to receive care closer to home.
  • The practice had developed a behaviour contract between the patient and practice. Rather than removing them from the practice list, they took the time to identify and communicate with the most challenging patients.
  • The practice had recently awarded all staff an extra week holiday a year.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • Ensure there is a written procedure for the cold chain in all situations.
  • Ensure there is a designated lead with a clear procedure for the monitoring and checking of vaccinations and emergency medicines.
  • Ensure a safe practice environment is maintained with the use of risk assessment associated with :
  • Removal of clinical waste and storage
  • Storage of used medical equipment awaiting decontamination
  • All vertical blinds

The areas where the provider should make improvements by :

  • Install an emergency alert bell in the patients’ disabled toilets.
  • Risk assess the storage of liquid nitrogen

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice