The Care Quality Commission
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  • GP practice

Cofton Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

2 Robinsfield Drive, off Longbridge Lane, West Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 4TU (0121) 693 5777

Provided and run by:
Cofton 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 Cofton 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 Cofton Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

16 September 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced follow-up comprehensive inspection at Cofton Medical Centre on 16 September 2019 to follow up on breaches of regulations identified at a previous inspection on 1 October 2018.

At the previous inspection the practice was rated as requires improvement overall and in the Safe and Well-led key questions. This was because the arrangements for managing safety alerts, patients on high risk medicines and emergency medicines were ineffective. The practice was unable to demonstrate they had considered overall trends for complaints and significant events to ensure potential risks were identified and future risks were mitigated.

At this inspection we found the practice had implemented systems and processes to ensure they were effective in the management of risk and analysis of trends and the practice is now rated good in all key questions and 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 and
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall.

We rated the practice as good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services because:

  • Systems and processes were in place to ensure that patients on high risk medicines received regular monitoring.
  • A process for the management of emergency medicines had been implemented to ensure regular monitoring was completed.
  • The practice had implemented processes to analysis trends of events and incidents to identify themes and mitigate future risk.
  • A review of the management of safety alerts had been implemented to ensure alerts were acted on appropriately.
  • A range of audits were in place to minimise risk and monitor service provision and improved outcomes for patients.
  • The overall governance arrangements had been strengthened to ensure effective management of risk, joint working and ensuring staff were engaged in the priorties of improving patient outcomes.
  • Leaders demonstrated they had the capacity and skills to deliver high quality, sustainable care.
  • Patient feedback demonstrated patients were satisfied with the services received and felt staff were helpful and supportive.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet most patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • Published data highlighted that the practices childhood immunisation uptake rates for 2018/19 were below target. Unpublished and unverified data from the practice showed improvement and during the inspection staff assured us of ongoing efforts to improve uptake.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Continue with efforts to improve uptake of childhood immunisations and cervical cancer screening.

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

1 October to 1 October 2018

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as RI overall.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – RI

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - RI

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cofton medical Centre on 1 October 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

  • Following the inspection, the practice was able to demonstrate that in most cases patients on high risk medicines were monitored appropriately.
  • There was an inconsistent approach to managing emergency medicines and medicine safety alerts.
  • General clinical oversight and management was not always consistent. however, individual leaders demonstrated that they were competent in their own roles.
  • Systems used by the practice to ensure patients were safeguarded from abuse were comprehensive and effective.
  • The practice uptake rates for breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening were in line with local and national averages.
  • Childhood immunisation uptake at the practice was above the national target rate of 90%.
  • The practice proactively engaged with local improvement schemes from the local commissioning group.
  • The practice performance in the national GP patient survey was consistently above local and national averages. Patient feedback we received was positive about the practice.
  • The practice had analysed and responded to the needs of a changing population.
  • The practice demonstrated that they had developed an open, friendly and honest culture that we saw benefitted both staff and patients.

The areas where the provider MUST make improvements are:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

The areas where the provider SHOULD make improvements are:

  • Consider ways to ensure that overall trends of complaints and incidents are highlighted to ensure that potential risks are identified and mitigated.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice
Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

3 August 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cofton Medical Centre on 3 August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed. The practice carried out an annual significant event audit to ensure learning from significant events was embedded.

  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. The GPs were leads in different areas and had weekly meetings to discuss concerns and share learning. The administrative staff also had lead roles in different areas.

  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by the GPs and the practice manager. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients which it acted on. There was a very pro-active Patient Participation Group (PPG) of which we met with two members during the inspection and spoke with another member by telephone.

  • The practice was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

  • Patients described staff as caring and helpful. Patients commented that they were treated with dignity and respect

  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.

  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.

  • One of the GPs at the practice provided a locality substance abuse service. They reviewed practice patients but also patients from a number of local practices. The service involved prescribing methadone, monitoring well-being and providing health checks. In the last two years the GP had reviewed 25 patients from different practices and 70 patients who are registered with the practice.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

  • Consider ways to improve patient experience in areas highlighted in the national patient survey.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice