The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Harness Harlesden Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Hillside Primary Care Centre, 150 Hilltop Avenue, London, NW10 3RY (020) 3188 7290

Provided and run by:
Harness Care Ltd

All Inspections

20 October 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the Harness Harlesden Practice on 20 October 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.
  • The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise most risks to patient safety.
  • Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patient feedback indicated that patients were treated with compassion and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • The service was accessible. Patient feedback was positive about the ease of getting an appointment. Urgent appointments available the same day. The provider had recruited two regular GPs with the aim of improving continuity of care.
  • 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 areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • The practice should ensure that key information for example, documented medicines reviews, are accessible in patients medical records including patients living in local care homes.
  • The practice should increase the use of clinical audit to investigate its performance and drive improvement in relation to practice priorities.
  • The practice should actively encourage eligible patients to attend for breast cancer screening.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice