The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Hedingham Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

77 Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3HT (01787) 460612

Provided and run by:
Hedingham Medical Centre

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Hedingham Medical Centre 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 Hedingham Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

2 April 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Hedingham Medical Centre on 2 April 2020. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

11 May 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Hilton House Surgery on 27 January 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement and the practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe, effective, responsive and well-led services and good for caring. We issued the provider with a requirement notice for improvement. The full comprehensive report on the January 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hilton House Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We then carried out a further comprehensive inspection on 11 May 2017. This inspection was undertaken to re-rate the practice and to ensure that the improvements identified at the January 2016 inspection had been actioned. Overall, the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows;

  • The practice had improved their system of governance and made considerable improvements since our last inspection in January 2016.

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Learning was being cascaded to staff.
  • The practice had undertaken risk assessments across a range of areas that protected patients and staff.
  • Medicine management was effective, including the monitoring of patients prescribed high-risk medicines.
  • Medicine and patient safety alerts were managed effectively and changes of treatment made where required.
  • Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • A staff induction system was now in place. Staff received adequate supervision and appraisal.
  • Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Data had generally improved since July 2016 although there was improvement still required in relation to patient satisfaction over telephone access and the opening hours of the surgery.
  • The practice had identified a high number of carers and provided them with support and guidance and an assessment of their needs.
  • 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 practice responded to the needs of their patient population and provided services accordingly.
  • 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 governance at the practice had improved and the practice performance in the Quality and Outcomes Framework remained consistently high.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Continue to improve patient satisfaction in relation to access to the practice by phone and the opening hours of the surgery.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

27 January 2016

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Hilton House Surgery on 27 January 2016. Overall the practice is rated as Requires Improvement.

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

  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to recruitment checks, infection control and fire.

  • When there were unintended or unexpected safety incidents, reviews and investigations were and lessons learned were communicated;

  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

  • Not all required recruitment checks had been undertaken and there was no formal induction process for new staff at the practice.

  • Not all staff acting as chaperones had received a disclosure and barring service check and a risk assessment was not in place as to why this was not required.

  • 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.
  • Patients said they sometimes found it difficult to make an appointment with a named GP; however there were 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 provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

  • Staff undertaking chaperone duties must have a Disclosure and Barring Service check or a risk assessment in place as to why one is not necessary. Ensure all clinical staff receive a DBS check prior to being employed at the practice.

  • Undertake a fire risk assessment of the practice.

In addition the provider should:

  • Ensure that safety incidents are reviewed more thoroughly and the learning shared with staff.

  • Ensure regular infection control audits take place.

  • Undertake the actions identified by the legionella risk assessment.

  • Ensure the practice has a documented induction programme for newly appointed staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice