The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Cerne Abbas Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Cerne Abbas Practice, 51 Long Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7JG (01300) 341666

Provided and run by:
Cerne Abbas Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Cerne Abbas 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 Cerne Abbas Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

24 September 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Cerne Abbas Surgery on 24 September 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

25 February 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cerne Abbas Surgery on 25 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • 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 with a named GP 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 proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We identified areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice participated in the Vanguard Project which involved closer collaborative working with other healthcare providers; South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST), local hospital, social care and other GP practices. The project included working with retail companies to provide patients with welcome home from hospital food packs; to ensure that bread and milk were available at home on arrival from hospital.
  • The practice had an innovative integrated nursing team (INT). The traditional practice nurse role and community nurse role was provided by the INT, who worked as practice nurses and also as community nurses, carrying out home visits across this large rural area with high numbers of older patients with complex conditions. The INT provided a wide range of nursing services seven days a week, 365 days a year from 8:30am to 5pm. Benefits to patients were demonstrated by the 74% of end of life patients who died in their own home which was their preferred place of death. This was higher than the national average of 33%.
  • The practice had organised a service called “Giant’s Social” which offered social events and befriending services which helped to reduce patient isolation across this rural area. The practice facilitated regular presentations on health promotions to this group. We spoke with patients who belonged to this group which had over 80 members and heard it had a positive impact on large numbers of patients.

The area where the provider should make improvements is:

Review facilities for patients with hearing loss to ensure effective communication with them.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

4 June 2014

During a routine inspection

Cerne Abbas Surgery is situated in a rural village, seven miles from Dorchester at 51 Long Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorset. DT2 7JG. The practice is registered to provide the following regulated activities: diagnostic and screening services; treatment of disease disorder or injury; and maternity and midwifery services.

We spoke with six patients and reviewed seven comment cards that were sent to the practice prior to our inspection. We also spoke with GPs, reception staff, the practice manager and nurses who worked at the practice.

We found that the practice provided a safe, caring, effective, responsive and well led service.

Patients who used the practice considered that their health needs were met and they received an efficient and responsive service. They considered that their privacy and dignity were respected. Patients were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment.

The practice had suitable systems in place to identify and monitor risks to patients and took action to minimise risk of harm when needed.

GPs who worked at the practice used information from audits to learn and actions were taken to improve patient outcomes based on this information.

Staff were supported to carry out their role and were able to give their views on how the service was provided.