Whitwell Health Centre

Updated 7 November 2018

Whitwell Health Centre is the registered name with the CQC for Crags Health Care . The main site is located at The Health Centre, The Square, Whitwell, Nottinghamshire. S80 4QR, and there is a branch site at Creswell Surgery, 174 Elmton Road, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. S80 4DY.

It is registered with the CQC as a partnership consisting of three GP partners. The practice has a population of approximately 5500 registered patients, predominantly of white British background. The practice has a higher proportion of patients aged 65 and above (22%) in comparison to the national average of 17%, although this is in line with the local average of 21%. The practice serves a population ranked in the fourth more deprived decile for deprivation in a former mining community.

The surgery provides primary care medical services commissioned by NHS England and Hardwick CCG. The practice covers a predominantly rural area within north east Derbyshire.

The premises at Whitwell were purpose built and are approximately 30 years old, but the branch site in Creswell is in a converted residential property which offers limited opportunities for expansion. Plans are in place for the development of a new building at Creswell but these are yet to be finalised.

As part of our inspection, we only visited the main site at Whitwell.

The practice team consists of the three GP partners (two males and one female). A clinical practitioner works four days a week at the practice. There are two practice nurses, and three healthcare assistants, one of whom also works as a care coordinator. The clinical team is supported by a practice manager, a secretary, seven receptionists and two audit clerks.

The practice opens from 8am until 6.30pm Monday to Friday, with extended opening hours from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Whitwell, and on a Monday evening at Creswell. Scheduled GP appointment times are available each morning and afternoon at both sites, apart from on one afternoon on most months when the practice closes for staff training.

The practice participates in an extended access scheme with eight local practices. This was introduced in September 2018 and provides greater options for patients to be seen in extended hours sessions in the evening and weekends. Patients are seen at one of three local practices if they wish to access the extended hours appointments.

Updated 7 November 2018

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Whitwell Health Centre on 18 December 2017. The overall rating for the practice was ‘good’, however, the practice was rated as ‘requires improvement’ for providing safe services. The practice was asked to develop an action plan to address the areas of concern that were identified during our inspection.

The full comprehensive report can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Whitwell Health Centre on our website at

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 24 October 2018 to review actions taken by the practice since our previous inspection in December 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to actions taken by the practice since our last inspection in respect of the ‘Are services safe?’ domain.

Overall the practice remains rated as ‘good’. The practice is now also rated ‘good’ for providing safe services.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had reviewed and improved their processes when alerts were received from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
• Patient experience in respect of GP consultations had improved. This was demonstrated by the practice achieving results in line with local and national averages in the latest national GP patient survey published in July 2018. In addition, the practice was monitoring this through their own internal survey, and training had been sourced for clinicians to enhance their consultation skills.
• The practice had considered formal succession planning, and had appointed a clinical practitioner to work at the practice four days each week, since our previous inspection.
• We saw that clinical and non-clinical staff training was up to date, and in accordance with the practice’s own mandatory training schedule.
• The prescribing of high-risk medicines was monitored closely supported by regular patient searches on the computer system, with evidence of follow-up actions that were documented.
• The practice had implemented a more structured approach to a quality improvement programme.
• Written protocols were available for reception staff, including dealing with medical emergencies.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 23 February 2018

Updated 23 February 2018

Updated 23 February 2018

Updated 23 February 2018

Updated 23 February 2018

Updated 23 February 2018