We carried out a review of the data available to us about Caritas General Practice Partnership 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 Caritas General Practice Partnership, you can give feedback on this service.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Caritas General Practice Partnership also known as ‘Dial House Medical Centre’ on 9 November 2016. At the inspection in November the overall rating for the practice was good, although the key question Safe was rated requires improvement. This was because a system to ensure appropriate action was taken in response to safety alerts was not in place. We also identified some areas where the practice could improve other aspects of the service they provided. The full comprehensive report on the November 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Caritas General Practice Partnership on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was a desk-based review carried out on 14 June 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 9 November 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to that requirement and also additional improvements made by the practice since our last inspection.
The practice is now rated as good for providing safe services, and overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings were as follows:
In response to the areas we identified of where the practice should make improvements:
In addition, in response to our previous inspection report, the practice had reviewed its risk assessment in relation to not having a defibrillator available at the practice. Defibrillators were now available at both the main and the branch locations of practice.
The practice had also trained a staff member in additional duties so that they could continue with the referrals process in the absence of the practice secretary.
Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Caritas General Practice Partnership also known as ‘Dial House Medical Centre’ on 9 November 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good. Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. Significant events had been investigated and action had been taken as a result of the learning from events.
Staff were trained in basic life support and a supply of medicines were available to respond to a medical emergency. Oxygen was available for medical emergencies but the practice did not have a defibrillator (used to attempt to restart a person’s heart) on site.
There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety. For example, infection control practices were good and there were regular checks on the environment and on equipment used. However, the protocol in place for responding to patient safety alerts had not always been implemented appropriately.
Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
Feedback from patients about the care and treatment they received from clinicians was very positive. Patients told us they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
Data showed that outcomes for patients at this practice were comparable to those of patients locally and nationally.
Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
The appointments system was flexible to accommodate the needs of patients. Urgent appointments were available the same day and routine appointments could be booked in advance. An open surgery was provided from 9.30am to 10.30am Monday to Friday. Patients told us this was very much valued.
The practice had good facilities, including disabled access. It was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
Complaints had been investigated and responded to in a timely manner.
The practice had a clear vision to provide a safe and high quality service.
There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
The practice provided a range of enhanced services to meet the needs of the local population.
Areas where the provider must make improvements are:
Introduce a system to ensure appropriate action is taken in response to safety alerts.
Areas where the provider should make improvement are:
Introduce a more robust system for monitoring patients who are prescribed medicines which may have serious side effects.
Ensure staff who are responsible for providing chaperone duties have undergone all required employment checks and training for the role.
Record meetings to ensure that important information has been shared as appropriate across the staff team.
Review and update information provided to patients about the complaints process.
Chief Inspector of General Practice