The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Spring Hill Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

19-21 Oldhill Street, London, N16 6LD (020) 8806 6993

Provided and run by:
The Lawson Practice

All Inspections

19 July 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Springfield GP Led Health Centre on 02 November 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. Within that overall rating the practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services. This was because it was not meeting legal requirements in relation to some aspects of:

  • Infection prevention and control.

  • Medicines storage.

  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for staff. DBS

The full comprehensive report of the November 2016 inspection can be found at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-584576678.

This inspection on 19 July 2017 was an announced focused inspection and was carried out to confirm that the practice had completed its plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 02 November 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice took action to mitigate risks associated with the spread of infection and with legionella.

  • Arrangements for storing medicines requiring cold storage were robust.

  • A system was in place to ensure all staff received DBS checks in line with the practice’s policy.

The practice had also acted on recommendations we made at our previous inspection and implemented additional improvements:

  • The practice had put in place a system for routinely and regularly checking the defibrillator to ensure it was in good working order at all times. The checks ensured the defibrillator battery was charged and the defibrillator pads were within their expiry date. A log was kept to record when the checks were completed.

At our previous inspection on 02 November 2016 we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services because not all risks to the health and safety of service users were being managed and mitigated, some medicines were not stored safely, and there were gaps in the information the provider maintained in respect of some of the staff it employed. At this inspection we found these shortfalls had been remedied. Consequently, the practice is rated as good for providing safe services.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

2 November 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Springfield GP Led Health Centre on 2 November 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 with the exception of a DBS check for one clinician, infection control, safe management of refrigerated medicines, and prevention of legionella.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and 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.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Implement systems to effectively manage safety and mitigate risks such as legionella, infection control, and safe management of refrigerated medicines.
  • Ensure recruitment arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.

In addition the provider should:

  • Implement arrangements to ensure emergency equipment remains fit for use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice