The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Garston Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

6a North Western Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 9GP (01923) 672086

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

19/09/2019

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We decided to undertake an inspection at Garston Medical Centre on 19 September 2019 following our annual review of the information available to us.

This inspection looked at the following key questions:

Safe, Effective, Caring and Well Led.

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.
  • Patients we spoke with and comment cards we received indicated that staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care. However, we found satisfaction in relation to healthcare professional interaction with patients during consultations had decreased in the latest 2019 GP patient survey.
  • 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:

  • Improve the uptake rate for cervical cancer screening.
  • Demonstrate improved patient satisfaction taking account of the 2019 GP patient survey results.

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

7 May 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Garston Medical Centre on 7 May 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for older people, people with long term conditions, families with young children, working age people, those whose circumstances make them vulnerable and those patients suffering with mental health problems.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of infection control and storage of medicines. However, these were addressed immediately by the practice following our inspection.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
  • 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.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and that 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 sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

However, there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

  • Ensure that all staff undertake infection control training.
  • Ensure a fire drill takes place.
  • Amend the locum/trainee information pack to include emergency procedures.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice