The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Athena Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

21 Atherden Road, London, E5 0QP (020) 8985 6675

Provided and run by:
Athena Medical Centre

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

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

12 December 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focused assessment of the key question responsive at Athena Medical Centre on 12 December 2023. Overall, the practice is rated as good and the key question for providing a responsive service is now rated good.

Safe - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Effective - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Caring - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Responsive – Good.

Well-led - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Following our previous inspection in January 2020 the practice was rated good overall and for all key questions.

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

Why we carried out this inspection.

We carried out this assessment as part of our work to understand how practices are working to try to meet peoples demands for access and to better understand the experiences of people who use services and providers.

We recognise the work that GP practices have been engaged in to continue to provide safe, quality care to the people they serve. We know staff are carrying this out whilst the demand for general practice remains exceptionally high, with more appointments being provided than ever. However, this challenging context, access to general practice remains a concern for people.

Our strategy makes a commitment to deliver regulation driven by people’s needs and experiences of care. These assessments of the responsive key question include looking at what practices are doing innovatively to improve patient access to primary care and sharing this information to drive improvement.

How we carried out the assessment

This assessment was carried out remotely. It did not include a site visit.

The process included:

  • Conducting an interview with the provider and members of staff using video conferencing.
  • Reviewing patient feedback from a range of sources.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • Reviewing data, we hold about the provider.
  • Seeking information/feedback from relevant stakeholders.

Our findings

We based our judgement of the responsive key question on a combination of:

  • what we found when we met with the provider
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and information from the provider,patients, the public and other organisations.

We found that:

  • The practice had monitored patient access and made improvements to enable them to remain above the GP patients survey national average.
  • The practice had responded to patient feedback and made and continues to make improvements to patient access.
  • The practice had organised and delivered services to meet patient’s needs.

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

  • Continue to improve patient access.
  • Review the Health Education England (HEE) guidance care Navigation | Competency Framework​ for reception staff.

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 Health Care

28 January 2020

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Athena Medical Centre on 28 January 2020 as part of our inspection programme.

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 and good for all population groups.

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 organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. 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:

  • Carry out an updated Health and Safety and premises risk assessment.
  • Continue to improve the uptake for cervical screening to achieve the national target of 80%.
  • Continue to improve the uptake for the childhood immunisation programme to achieve the nationl target of 90% for all four indicators.
  • Chase results for the breast cancer screening programme with secondary care providers to ensure practice records are accurate.

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

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care