We carried out a review of the data available to us about Ashburton 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 Ashburton Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.
This inspection of Ashburton Surgery was an announced focused inspection carried out on 12 October 2017 following information of concern provided by patients and also to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the areas requiring improvement that we identified in our previous inspection on 9 February 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
The overall rating for the practice at the announced comprehensive inspection in February 2016 was good. The full comprehensive report on the February 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ashburton Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
At this inspection in October 2017 we looked at the Safe, Effective and Responsive domains.
Overall the practice is still rated as good overall.
The information received from patients included information about clinical care and care of patients with mental illness. We also looked at the areas requiring improvement set at the last inspection in February 2016 relating to record keeping for complaints and significant event processes. We also looked at the areas requiring improvement regarding the assessment of dispensary staff competencies and management of expiry dates on dispensary medicines.
Our key findings this inspection in October 2017 at were as follows:
We saw one area of outstanding practice:
Practice staff encouraged seeking out and embedding new ways of providing care and treatment. For example, staff wanted to respond to a measles outbreak in the local community but acknowledging practice childhood immunisation rates were lower than national averages due to the alternative lifestyles of significant numbers of parents in the locality. Practice staff, in accordance with NHS E guidance, had targeted patients over the ages of 16 to receive an MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination to boost immunity in the community. The practice had so far immunised 319 patients (with two vaccines each).
Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ashburton Surgery on Tuesday 9 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
The practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they meet people’s needs.
GPs at the practice made weekly visits to a local care home. This provided continuity of care, and developed strong relationships with the residents, managers and staff.
Clinical risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
Patient feedback was consistently good. Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
Review the competency assessment for dispensary staff to ensure it covers all aspects of the Dispensary Services Quality Scheme
Ensure the records kept of significant events reflect the investigation, action and learning that took place.
Review systems are in place to ensure that the process of monthly expiry checks in the dispensary are performed
Ensure the complaints register reflects the outcome and learning that takes place.
Chief Inspector of General Practice
The Ashburton Surgery is located at 1 Eastern Road, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, Devon,TQ13 7AP. The practice provides health advice and treatment as well as referrals to other care agencies where necessary. The practice is open from 8:30am until 6pm Monday to Friday. A late evening surgery is available one evening a week for patients that find it difficult to visit the GP, nurse practitioner and nurse during the day. At weekends and when the practice is closed, patients are directed to the Out of Hours service delivered by another provider.
The practice has five GPs, a nurse practitioner, a practice nurse, an assistant practitioner and three phlebotomists (a person qualified to take blood). The GPs and nursing staff are supported by a team of administrative staff. They look after more than 6,000 patients in a rural area.
Staff were trained to support and work with vulnerable adults and children. There was appropriate equipment, medicines and procedures for managing patient emergencies. Staff were aware of policies and procedures for reporting serious events, accidents, errors, complaints, and for safeguarding patients at risk of harm. Incidents were investigated and acted on, and learning was shared with staff. Effective infection control measures were in place.
Patient care was delivered in line with best practice. Systems were in place to ensure the service was monitored and ways for improving the service for patients were explored. Systems were in place for recruiting new staff. The practice worked with other healthcare providers to ensure patients received effective care. Patients were offered advice, treatment and support for their health.
Patients described the staff as helpful and friendly. The receptionists had a warm and friendly approach to patients and visitors. They knew and understood the needs of patients who attended the practice regularly and their approach was kind. Patients told us they were involved in decisions about their treatment.
Patients were able to access the care they needed promptly and efficiently. The practice had systems to enable patients’ views to be listened to and acted on. Arrangements were in place to help the practice meet the demand and needs of patients with minimal delay. Staff told us they had access to appropriate equipment to attend to patient needs. Staff were aware of arrangements for responding to medical emergencies. The practice was accessible to patients with mobility difficulties and those with young children.
A leadership structure and processes were in place to keep staff informed of any changes. The GPs and practice manager regularly reviewed complaints and significant events, to maintain and improve patient care. Staff felt valued and well supported. They were able to give their views on any improvements. The practice had responded to patients’ views and patients gave positive feedback about the care provided.