The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Guardian Medical Centre Also known as Dr M Kerr & Partners

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Guardian Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1UD (01925) 650226

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

23 November 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Guardian Medical Centre on 23 November 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.

30/01/2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Guardian Medical Centre on 16 March 2016. The full comprehensive report on the March 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Guardian Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

At our previous inspection on 16 March 216 we rated the practice as ‘good’ overall but we identified a breach of Regulation 17 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was because the provider had not carried out a health and safety risk assessment to identify risks to peoples’ safety and ensure measures were in place to mitigate these.

This inspection was a desk-based review carried out on 30 January 2017 to confirm that the provider had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulation identified at our previous inspection. This report covers our findings in relation to that requirement and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The provider had taken action to meet the breach of Regulation 17. The provider had carried out a health and safety risk assessment that identified risks to peoples’ safety and this included information on the measures in place to mitigate these.

We also found that the provider had made a number of improvements where we had identified these. These included;

  • The introduction of a clear and auditable record of staff training to assist the provider in identifying staff training needs and plan for training requirements.

  • The development of a safeguarding procedure.

  • A review of recruitment procedures to ensure all relevant recruitment checks are carried for staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

16/03/2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Guardian Medical Centre on 16 March 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. Significant events had been investigated and action had been taken as a result of the learning from events.
  • Systems were in place to deal with medical emergencies and all staff were trained in basic life support.
  • There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety. For example, infection control measures were carried out. However, some improvements were required, for example a health and safety risk assessment had not been carried out and there were some shortfalls in practice as a result of this.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
  • Feedback from patients about the clinical care and treatment they received was very positive.
  • Data showed that outcomes for patients at this practice were similar to locally and nationally reported outcomes.
  • Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Staff felt well supported in their roles and were kept up to date with appropriate training.
  • Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
  • Overall, patients told us the appointments system was flexible and they could get an appointment when they needed one. However, a proportion of patients told us they had difficulty in getting through to the practice by telephone and getting an appointment with a GP.
  • The practice had good facilities, including disabled access. It was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available. Complaints had been investigated and responded to in a thorough, sensitive and timely manner.
  • The practice had a clear vision to provide a safe and high quality service.
  • There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
  • The practice provided a range of enhanced services to meet the needs of the local population.
  • The practice sought patient views about improvements that could be made to the service. This included the practice having and consulting with a patient participation group (PPG).

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • The provider must carry out a health and safety risk assessment and plan to mitigate risks including those associated with electrical safety.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Maintain a clear and auditable record of staff training for staff in all roles to assist the provider in identifying staff training needs and plan for training requirements.

  • The provider should develop their own safeguarding procedure so that staff have ready access to the key pieces of information they need.

  • Ensure all relevant checks are carried out in relation to the recruitment of staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice