The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Dr RK Mathews

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Stirling Medical Centre, Stirling Street, Grimsby, South Humberside, DN31 3AE (01472) 721650

Provided and run by:
Dr Renju Mathews

All Inspections

NA

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a targeted assessment of the responsive key question at Dr RK Mathews. The rating for the responsive key question is Good. As the other domains were not reviewed during this assessment, the rating of good will be carried forward from the previous inspection and the overall rating of the service will remain Good.

Safe – Not inspected, rating of Good carried forward from previous inspection

Effective - Not inspected, rating of Good carried forward from previous inspection

Caring - Not inspected, rating of Good carried forward from previous inspection

Responsive - Good

Well-led - Not inspected, rating of Good carried forward from previous inspection

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr RK Mathews on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out a targeted assessment of the responsive key question. Targeted assessments enable us to focus on certain key questions to explore particular aspects of care.

How we carried out the inspection/review

  • This assessment was carried out without a site visit
  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider and reviewing the appointment system.

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:

  • Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • National GP patient survey showed an upward trajectory following changes made as a result of feedback from patients and Healthwatch.
  • Complaints were handled in a timely manner.

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 Health Care

12 and 20 September 2022

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced inspection at Dr R K Mathews on 12 and 20 September 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as Good.

Set out the ratings for each key question

Safe - Good

Effective - Good

Caring - Good

Responsive - Good

Well-led - Good

Following our previous inspection on 7 September 2016, the practice was rated Good overall and for all key questions.

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr R K Mathews on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

This was a comprehensive inspection as the service had not been inspected for six years.

How we carried out the inspection

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently.

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing
  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system and discussing findings with the provider
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider
  • Requesting evidence from the provider
  • A short site visit
  • Staff feedback forms

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 have rated this practice as Good overall

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs. Clinical searches and medical records we reviewed showed effective management and monitoring of high-risk medicines and patients with long-term conditions although there were some areas that required review.
  • Staff treated patients with kindness, compassion, and respected their privacy and dignity.
  • The practice adjusted how it delivered services to meet the needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The practice recognised the importance of their Patient Participation Group and acted on their suggestions.
  • The management team demonstrated an open and transparent leadership style.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person centred care.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Apply to add the regulated activity of maternity and midwifery services to their registration with CQC.
  • Continue with plans to improve uptake in cervical cancer screening.
  • Develop a plan to consistently follow up patients to check response to the treatment within a week of an acute exacerbation of asthma and consistently issue and record asthma care plans.
  • Standardise medication reviews to ensure appropriate consultation with patients and monitoring checks are reviewed.
  • Continue to review the prescribing of hypnotic medicines.
  • Continue to survey and engage with the patient population to improve and maintain satisfaction in areas identified in the GP Survey such as involving patients in decisions about their care.

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

7 September 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr RK Mathews on 7 September 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. There was a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Risks to patients were assessed and managed, with the exception of those relating to recruitment checks.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Data showed patient outcomes were similar compared to the national average.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available on the website and easy to understand. Some 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 proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Ensure recruitment procedure and policy is followed and arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.
  • Record actions following the receipt of national safety alerts.
  • Ensure significant events are recorded correctly.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

1 August 2013

During a routine inspection

Patients told us their privacy and dignity was respected by staff. They also said they were provided with information about treatment options to enable them to make informed choices. Comments included, 'We get information. I had breast cancer and the doctor explained everything really well.'

Patients told us they were happy with the health care received by the service.

We found staff had received training in how to safeguard children and adults from the risk of harm and abuse.

We found the practice was clean and tidy and there were systems in place to prevent and control the spread of infection. Comments from patients included, 'You always see hand washing and when they take bloods they wear gloves.'

We found medicines were managed appropriately although we found there was no protocol for the use of the oxygen cylinder, which was shared between the practices in the building.

Patients were complimentary about the staff team. Comments included, 'The staff are quite helpful, there are no issues.'

We found there were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided to patients. This included checks and surveys to obtain patients views so that improvements could be made.