The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

109 Station Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6JJ (01462) 850305

Provided and run by:
Dr Collins and Carragher

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle, you can give feedback on this service.

10 August 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Drs Carragher, Akhtar & Brindle on 10 August 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

18 April 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Collins and Carragher on 10 May 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. However, we identified a breach of legal requirements. Improvements were needed to systems, processes and procedures to ensure the practice provided safe services. Consequently the practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services. The full comprehensive report from the 10 May 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Collins and Carragher on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us and submitted an action plan outlining the actions they would take to meet legal requirements in relation to;

  • Regulation 17 Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014

- good governance.

The area identified as requiring improvement during our inspection in May 2016 was as follows:

  • Ensure that all Patient Group Directions (PGDs) are reviewed and signed by an appropriate person.

In addition, we told the provider they should:

  • Ensure that policies and procedures are formally reviewed and updated at regular intervals.
  • Ensure that all staff complete training updates on a regular basis.
  • Consider implementing a formal process for recording meetings.

We carried out an announced focused inspection on 18 April 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach of regulation that we identified in our previous inspection on 10 May 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Our key finding on this focused inspection was that the practice had made improvements since our previous inspection and were now meeting the regulation that had previously been breached.

The practice is now rated as good for providing safe services.

On this inspection we found:

  • Sufficient arrangements were in place for the management of Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and they were appropriately reviewed, signed and countersigned.

Additionally where we previously told the practice they should make improvements our key findings were as follows:

  • A process was in place and adhered to for the review, update and amendment of policies and procedures including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) used to safely dispense medicines.
  • Staff had completed infection control and adult and child safeguarding training.
  • During our inspection on 10 May 2016 we found there were no written records of the discussions had and decisions made at the practice’s governance meetings. During this focused inspection we looked at the minutes of five practice meetings held between June 2016 and March 2017. We saw these meetings were well attended and provided a record of the discussions had and decisions made. The staff we spoke with said on the occasions they were not present at the meetings they knew how to access the minutes and felt informed and up to date about any issues that affected them.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

10/05/2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Collins and Carragher on 10 May 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, we saw evidence of annual review meetings and the details of the event and actions were recorded on the patient record.
  • Risks to patients were assessed but some systems and processes were not implemented fully enough, for example, training had not been completed by all staff members.
  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity, but some were overdue a review.
  • Data showed patient outcomes were good for the locality.
  • 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. 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 had proactively sought feedback from patients, which it acted upon and had an active patient participation group. The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • To ensure that all Patient Group Direction’s (PGD's) are reviewed and signed by an appropriate person.

In addition the areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Ensure policies and procedures are formally reviewed and updated at regular intervals.
  • Consider a formal process for recording meetings.
  • All staff to undertake training updates on a regular basis.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice