The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Cliffe Woods Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Parkside, Cliffe Woods, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8HX (01634) 949300

Provided and run by:
Highparks Medical 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 Cliffe Woods Surgery 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 Cliffe Woods Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

11 April 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focussed inspection at Cliffe Woods Surgery on 11 April 2022. The overall rating for the practice remains Good.

Why we carried out this inspection:

We carried out an announced focussed inspection on 11 April 2022 in response to information of concern we received regarding access to the practice. This report covers findings in relation to those requirements.

How we carried out the inspection:

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently.

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This was in line with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing / telephone interviews.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.

Our judgement of the quality of care at this service is based 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.

This practice remains rated as Good overall.

The key question at this inspection is rated as:

Are services responsive? – Good

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Continue with plans to add the new GP partner to the provider registration with CQC.
  • Continue to implement action plans and monitor improvements to patient satisfaction scores regarding access.

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

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

27 April 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cliffe Woods Surgery on 4, 5 and 6 February 2020. The overall rating for the practice was Good but the Safe domain was rated as Requires Improvement. The full comprehensive report on the February 2020 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cliffe Woods Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

After our inspection in February 2020 the practice wrote to us with an action plan outlining how they would make the necessary improvements to comply with the regulations.

Why we carried out this inspection:

We carried out an announced focussed follow-up inspection on 27 April 2021 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection in February 2020. This report covers findings in relation to those requirements.

How we carried out the inspection:

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently.

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This was in line with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.

Our judgement of the quality of care at this service is based 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.

This practice remains rated as Good overall.

The key question at this inspection is rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

We rated the practice as good for providing safe services because:

  • Risks to patients, staff and visitors continued to be assessed, monitored or managed in an effective manner.
  • The provider had made improvements to the arrangements for medicines management to help keep patients safe. However, further review and improvement of some standard operating procedures (SOPs) were required.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Continue with plans to replace clinical wash-hand basins that do not currently comply with Department of Health guidance at the next refurbishment.
  • Continue with plans to deliver the practical element of basic life support training to relevant staff when it becomes available as the pandemic restrictions reduce.
  • Consider further review and improvement of SOPs to ensure completeness, correct content and clarity.

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

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

4, 5 and 6 February 2020

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as Good overall.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cliffe Woods Surgery on 4, 5 and 6 February 2020 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, as part of our regulatory functions.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice’s systems, practices and processes helped to keep people safe.
  • Risks to patients, staff and visitors were assessed, monitored and managed in an effective manner.
  • Staff had the information they needed to deliver safe care and treatment to patients.
  • The arrangements for managing medicines did not always help to keep patients safe.
  • The practice learned and made improvements when things went wrong.
  • Published Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) data showed that performance for all indicators was either in line with or above local and national averages.
  • NHS England published results showed that uptake rates for the vaccines given exceeded the WHO based target of 95% in all of the four indicators.
  • Public Health England published data showed that performance for all cancer indicators was in line with, but mostly higher than, local and national averages.
  • Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Patients were able to access care and treatment from the practice within an acceptable timescale for their needs.
  • National GP patient survey results published in July 2019 were in line with local and national averages.
  • There were clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability to support good governance and management.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Continue with plans to replace clinical wash-hand basins that do not currently comply with Department of Health guidance at the next refurbishment.
  • Continue with plans to deliver basic life support training to relevant staff in May 2020.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care