• Doctor
  • GP practice

The Castle Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Central Street, Ludgershall, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 9RA (01264) 790356

Provided and run by:
The Castle 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 The Castle 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 The Castle Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

6 July 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about The Castle Practice on 6 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.

3 May 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Castle Practice on 3 May 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.
  • 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.
  • Feedback from the lead health trainer was positive about how collective input had had a dramatic impact on patients’ lives.
  • 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.
  • 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 areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • The practice should ensure that all letters responding to complaints contain details of how to escalate the issue to the ombudsman.

  • The practice should ensure that the thermometers and temperature recording in the vaccine fridges comply with current guidance.

  • The practice should review infection control processes to ensure a clear audit trail is maintained of cleaning carried out.

  • The practice should review how they deliver services to patients with mental health problems and review their exception rates for this patient group.

  • The practice should review exception rates for patients with a mental health diagnosis to increase the number of patients receiving treatment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice