The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Cherry Medical Practice

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Little Hulton District Centre, Haysbrook Avenue, Manchester, Lancashire, M28 0AY (0161) 212 5380

Provided and run by:
Dr Brian Hope

All Inspections

05 September 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cherry Medical Practice on 05 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
  • 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. However, there was not a robust method for recording complaints or audit trail.
  • 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 but did not have health and safety and fire safety risk assessments in place.
  • The practice did not have a clear leadership structure but staff did tell us they felt supported by management.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • Ensure there is a system in place to document relevant recruitment checks have been carried out prior to a person’s employment.

  • Ensure risk assessments have been undertaken in relation to health and safety and fire safety.

  • Ensure all staff receive training relevant to their role and that the practice has a formal way to monitor training records for staff.

  • Ensure all clinical staff have indemnity insurance.

  • Ensure the practice has a system in place to ensure all staff receive patient safety alerts.

  • Ensure that patient group directions are signed by an authorised person.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

  • Consider implementing a more formal way to document complaints and that there is a clear audit trail for these.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

29 January 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Following an inspection of the service on 1 October 2013 the provider was asked to make some improvements to maintain compliance with infection prevention and control and monitoring the quality of the service. We carried out this review to check what improvements had been made.

The practice manager was not in the practice at the time of our visit but we were able to speak with them on the telephone.

We saw a copy of an infection prevention and control (IPC) audit that had been carried out on 14 January 2014 by the local infection control nurses. In addition we saw two internal IPC audits had been carried out since our last visit.

We saw appraisals were in progress; the appraisal included a self-assessment tool, a job description and guidance for staff on how to complete the assessment.

We saw evidence to show general practitioners (GP's) had received safeguarding training to level 3 and other staff had completed e-learning to level 1.

1 October 2013

During a routine inspection

There was a practice information leaflet available in the reception area which gave details about opening times and how to make appointments.

The waiting area was clean and tidy with sufficient seating for patients waiting for an appointment.

On the day of the inspection we were only able to speak with two patients who attended the morning surgery. The practice was located within a purpose built health centre, shared by another GP practice and a community health team. Patients told us: "It can be difficult sometimes to get an appointment and I've had to wait today.' 'I am quite happy with the care I receive.'

We noted safeguarding procedures were displayed in waiting areas and consultation rooms. When we spoke with the GP, manager and reception staff they had an good understanding of what constituted a safeguarding concern and they were fully aware of how to escalate these concerns. There were some shortfalls in notifying CQC about safeguarding.

The provider did not have an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage all risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service and others. Although a system for annual appraisals for staff was in place, we noted these had not been carried out in a timely way. Consent was not always clearly recorded in the records.