The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Garden Park Surgery, Wallsend to be Good after an inspection in December 2016.
During Garden Park Surgery’s first inspection in April 2016, CQC rated the surgery as Inadequate and placed it into special measures.
As is standard with all practices placed into special measures, after a period of six months we inspect again to check whether sufficient improvements have been made.
Alison Holbourn, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice said: “We did not believe that the practice was likely to resolve its challenges without external support, and this is why it was placed it into special measures.
“After a period of six months we inspected again and were pleased to see a number of significant improvements made by the surgery to raise the standard of care they provide.
“Although the practice had made significant improvements, it will take time for them to demonstrate that the level of improvement they’ve shown can be sustained. We encourage them to keep looking at ways of improving the practice further and more importantly how they can sustain those changes until the next time we inspect and beyond.”
Inspectors found that the practice had made significant progress in addressing all concerns that had been identified in April 2016. They had appointed a new lead GP and they led the transformation work.
Other key findings at this inspection included:
- We found improvements in the overall governance arrangements, clinical governance, leadership and clinical effectiveness.
- They had implemented new arrangements and made improvements in all areas relating to , infection control, medicines management, recruitment checks, clinical audit and minor surgery.
- The practice was now following current legislation to ensure they are providing the most effective treatment for patients.
- Clinical education sessions were held at monthly meetings and there were regular discussions around current guidelines and standards. Local clinical guidelines were installed on the front screen of every computer to allow quick and easy access to guidelines.
- Since the last inspection one of the GP partners had taken the lead on clinical audit. The practice had completed three clinical audits and were in the process of undertaking a further two.
- When inspected in April 2016 there were ineffective systems in place for reviewing patients’ medicines and repeat prescriptions were not closely monitored. During this inspection there were improvements made; medicines reviews had been completed for those overdue and a new protocol implemented to ensure all reviews were carried out. An audit was carried out every month to ensure the revised processes were successful.
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For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Officer Kerri James by email kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or by phone on 07464 92 9966.
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