We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Burnley Wood Medical Centre on 9 January 2019 as part of our inspection programme. The practice had previously been rated as good overall and good for all population groups when we last inspected in September 2015.
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 and good for all population groups.
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 audit and other work undertaken by the practice demonstrated quality improvement.
- Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
- There was a strong team ethos amongst staff. Staff told us they felt supported by the practice leadership.
- The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
- The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.
- The practice was proactive in ensuring military veterans received the support they needed; when health issues they experienced were related to their time in service we saw any necessary referrals were prioritised.
We saw an area of outstanding practice:
- The practice had previously led the development of the Burnley Wood Community Assets Projects to bring together a wide range of local services and promote closer joint-working and improve health and well-being outcomes for patients in the area. We saw work on these projects had been maintained, with new projects recently commenced.
Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:
- Formalise and record processes to gain assurance workflow systems are operating as intended and non-medical prescribers are working within levels of competence.
- Complete a risk assessment to record the rationale for emergency medicines stocked by the practice and review stock held in regard to activities carried out.
- Review complaint response letters to include details of how patients can escalate their complaints should they be unhappy with the practice’s reply.
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice