The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

John Tasker House Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

John Tasker House, 56 New Street, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1BH (01371) 872121

Provided and run by:
John Tasker House Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about John Tasker House Surgery 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 John Tasker House Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an inspection of this service due to the length of time since the last inspection. Following our review of the information available to us, including information provided by the practice, we focused our inspection on the following key questions:

Are services at this location effective?

Are services at this location well-led?

Because of the assurance received from our review of information, we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions:

Are services at this location safe?

Are services at this location caring?

Are services at this location responsive?

At the last inspection on 11 November 2015 we rated the practice as good overall.

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.
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall, and requires improvement for effective services.

We rated the practice as requires improvement for effective services because:

  • Some patients suffering with long-term conditions and those suffering from poor mental health were not receiving regular monitoring and reviews as highlighted by low QOF data. Exception reporting was also high in some areas.

We rated the practice as good for providing well-led services because:

  • Patients’ were assessed, and care and treatment was provided in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance.
  • The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care provided.
  • Staff supported patients with care and advice to live healthier lives.
  • Effective care and treatment was coordinated with other organisations.
  • Staff had the knowledge and skills to carry out their roles.
  • Staff members were encouraged to be involved in any development or change and improvements at the practice.
  • Leadership at the practice promoted compassionate, person-centred, inclusive, and effective care at all levels.
  • Governance arrangements showed there were clear responsibilities, of roles and systems of accountability to support the services provided at the practice.
  • Patients told us they were involved in decisions about their care.
  • There were clear and effective processes to manage risks, and issues in performance.
  • The practice involved the public, staff and external partners to support them provide sustainable care. The patient participation group told us the practice were always open to their ideas and allowed them to be involved in many practice developments.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Improve the monitoring and review of patients with long-term conditions and those suffering from poor mental health. Implement an improved system for exception reporting patients.
  • Improve the uptake of patients eligible for cervical cancer screening , and ensure evidence of all screening is documented in patient records.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

02 April 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at John Tasker House on 02 April 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing well-led, safe, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for the older people, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • Staff knew how to report significant events and we found that action had been taken in response to safety alerts. Actions were also taken following investigations into significant events, although these were not always reviewed to assess their impact.
  • The practice worked with other agencies to help ensure the care and support provided to vulnerable children and adults was coordinated and effective.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. The practice had taken action to improve performance in areas such as the care of patients with diabetes, including through staff training.
  • Staff were aware of how to support patients whose capacity to understand and make decisions may be limited, for example for patients who had dementia.
  • 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. Complaints were dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted upon.

However there were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

  • Introduce a system whereby changes made as a result of investigations are reviewed to determine their effectiveness.
  • Review the arrangements in the dispensary to ensure medicines prescribed are dispensed promptly to patients.
  • Take steps to improve the take up of annual health checks of people with a learning disability.
  • Ensure all clinical audits are completed audits.
  • Record minutes of all meetings that are held including both the nurses and clinical meetings.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

30 December 2013

During a routine inspection

We found the staff at John Tasker House to be courteous and welcoming to people during our inspection on 30 December 2013. There was a selection of information in the waiting rooms for the benefit of the people who used the surgeries at both Dunmow and Felsted. The information included notices about John Tasker House services, health promotion and other support services.

We received positive comments from six people on the day of inspection. One person told us: "This is a really good GP practice. Since they changed the appointment system I can always get an appointment and don't have to wait."

We saw that staff spoke politely to people and consultations were carried out in private treatment rooms.

The doctors we spoke with told us they involved people in their care. One told us, "We try to listen to people and ask questions only once we've heard what people have to tell us."

John Tasker House had appropriate arrangements in place to protect people against the risks associated with prescribing, handling and dispensing medicines.

We spoke to five members of staff about the support they received and saw records of appraisals, regular training, and development.

We saw that the surgery had a records storage system and people's records were stored appropriately and securely.