Archived: Sobell Medical Centre

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection) at Sobell Medical Centre on 25-27 October 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as requires improvement.

Safe - Requires Improvement

Effective - Requires Improvement

Caring - Good

Responsive - Good

Well-led - Requires Improvement

Why we carried out this inspection

This was a comprehensive inspection as part of our inspection programme. This was our first inspection of this location since it changed provider in May 2021.

How we carried out the inspection

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.

This included:

• Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
• Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
• Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
• Requesting evidence from the provider.
• A short site visit.

Our findings

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

• what we found when we inspected
• information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
• information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We found that:

• Appropriate environmental risk assessments were being carried out.
• The practice followed procedures for significant events and complaints.
• Patients on high-risk medications and patients with long-term illnesses were not always monitored appropriately.
• The practice did not have an effective system to implement patient safety alerts.
• The practice were not regularly updating their safeguarding register.
• There was evidence of clinical audits and continuous learning.
• There was no effective oversight of staff training and appraisals and the uptake of childhood immunisations and cervical cancer screening.
• Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
• Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
• Governance arrangements were not effective which impacted on the delivery of high-quality care (for example regarding childhood immunisations, cervical cancer screening and maintaining an active Patient Participation Group).

We found two breaches of regulation. The provider must:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Establish an active Patient Participation Group.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services