Archived: Kings Cross Surgery

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Kings Cross Surgery on 31 May 2017 as part of our inspection programme. Following the inspection we rated the practice as Good overall, however we rated it as requires improvement for providing Caring services. You can read the full report, published on 7 August 2017, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Kings Cross Surgery on our website at: .

On 16 September 2020, we carried out a desk-based review to confirm that the practice had resolved the issues we identified at our previous inspection in May 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

We found the practice is now meeting those requirements and we have amended the rating for this practice accordingly. The practice is now rated Good for the provision of Caring services. We previously rated the practice as Good for providing Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led services.

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

• what we found when we reviewed the information sent to us by the provider
• information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
• information from the provider.

We have rated the practice as Good for providing Caring services because:

• The practice provided care in a way which kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
• It had developed and implemented an App (computer application) to improve patient access.
• The practice regularly reviewed the results of the national GP patient survey, and ran its own patient survey to measure levels of patient satisfaction.
• Comments received, about the practice, on the NHS Choices website showed patients were satisfied with the care they received.

When we last inspected, we also found high levels of exception reporting from the practice’s cervical screening programme. At this inspection the practice had made improvements this programme.

• We saw evidence from the practice’s own system confirming, for eligible patients:
  • An average of 82% of patients underwent screening;

• The practice operated a walk-in service for all eligible patients to undergo screening when convenient, and appropriate, for them.
• The practice carried out specific searches to ensure women were being recalled in line with National Screening guidelines;
• Recalls are carried out regularly, with women who failed to respond receiving text messages reminding them to attend for screening;
• Staff had attended training carried out by Public Health England to enable them to carry out recalls.
• The practice had a failsafe system staff followed to ensure patients were not missed from the screening programme;
• Patients records were checked and appropriately coded to ensure eligible patients were included in the programme;
• Since 2018 the practice had run Women's Health Events to promote its screening programmes, including cervical screening. The programme had also been attended by representatives from Public Health England and a local charity.
• It had a large patient population from a group who were reluctant to engage with the programme. Accordingly, twice a year, it invited representatives of the community, and had interpreters available, to explain the importance of undergoing cervical screening.