We carried out a review of the data available to us about Whitchurch 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 Whitchurch Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Whitchurch Surgery on 10 August 2016. The practice was rated good for effective, caring, responsive and well-led, and was rated requires improvement for safe. The overall rating for the practice was good. The full comprehensive report on the August 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Whitchurch Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 12 April 2017, 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 on 10 August 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.
At our previous inspection on 10 August 2016, we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services as the practice was not operating an adequate system with regards to water safety; there was no system in place to track blank prescription forms and pads and monitor their use; not all staff had up to date training with regards to infection control and prevention.
It was also noted on the previous inspection that the practice should ensure that dispensary staff had the correct qualifications and that there were embedded systems in place for monitoring the dispensing process. It was noted that there was no designated sink for use in the dispensary for the hygienic preparation of medicines, cleaning and hand washing and no standard operating procedures in place to reflect current good practice in the dispensary processes. The practice was also asked to consider how to ensure greater privacy for patients at the reception area and consider how to improve patient outcomes for those with long term conditions.
Our key findings for 12 April 2017
We found that there were processes in place for ensuring water safety at the practice.
The practice had systems in place to track prescription storage and usage.
All staff had received up to date and formal training with regards to infection control and prevention.
Steps were being taken to remedy the problems with privacy for patients at the reception area with some work already undertaken to reduce the risk of being overheard.
The dispensary had fully qualified and experienced staff and was evidenced to have quality processes in place to maintain and improve the dispensary processes.
Patients with long term conditions now have more support with a dedicated lead GP for each type or group of conditions and a lead nurse has undertaken an extensive review programme. A revised recall system was introduced that operated more on patient need.
The practice is now rated as good for providing safe services.
Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Whitchurch Surgery on 10th August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
There were areas of practice where the provider must make improvements:
There were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:
Chief Inspector of General Practice
We found the consulting rooms, waiting area and toilets were clean and tidy and free from odours. Patients we spoke with said they had no concerns about hygiene standards within the practice.
Patients were cared for, or supported by suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Records we reviewed showed there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place.
Patients who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse from happening.
The practice sought the views of patients and acted upon the feedback received. There was a Patient Participation Group who supported the practice to monitor their performance. The practice undertook periodical clinical and nonclinical audits throughout the year.