The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

The Victoria Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Victoria Road, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 8SS (0121) 557 3422

Provided and run by:
The Victoria 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 The Victoria 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 The Victoria Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

7 September 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about The Victoria Surgery on 7 September 2019. 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.

15 June 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Victoria Surgery on 20 January 2016. The overall rating for the practice was Good. However, for providing safe service the practice was rated as requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Victoria Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 15 June 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection on the 20 January 2016.

Overall the practice is rated as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • During our previous inspection we saw that the practice had a defibrillator and oxygen available on the premises. This equipment was only checked annually and we found that the oxygen mask and defibrillator pads were out of date. At this follow up inspection we saw monthly checks had been introduced for both the defibrillator and oxygen to ensure it was in good working order. There were masks and pads available and they were in date.
  • When we inspected the practice in January 2016 we saw that some prescriptions had not been collected for nearly two months; two of these were for children, one of which was for the treatment of asthma. This did not ensure safeguards were in place to ensure that vulnerable patients always received medicines in a timely way. At this follow up inspection we saw the practices’ repeat prescription protocol had been reviewed and a monthly log had been introduced to account for all uncollected prescriptions.
  • When we inspected the practice in January 2016 we saw most staff had received a Disclosure and Barring Service (BDS) check. However, one staff member was undergoing a DBS check. They carried out the role of a chaperone but the practice had not formally assessed risk whilst waiting to for the outcome of the DBS check. At this inspection we looked at all administration staff files and saw DBS checks were in place. DBS checks help to identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable
  • During our previous inspection we saw all the emergency medicines were in date. However, they were they were not easily accessible to staff in the event of an emergency. At this follow up inspection we saw that the practice had carried out a risk assessment and had relocated the emergency medicines to accessible locations.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

20 January 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

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

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Although risks to patients who used services were assessed, the systems and processes to address these risks were not implemented well enough to ensure patients were kept safe. For example, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for one member of staff had been applied for but the certificate had not been received and a risk assessment had not been completed.
  • There were uncollected prescriptions; some were nearly two months old. This meant that insufficient safeguards were in place to ensure that patients always received medicines in a timely way.
  • 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.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.
  • Results from the national GP patient survey showed that patients scored the practice lower than the CCG and national average with regards its satisfaction scores on consultations with GPs and nurses and involvement in planning and making decisions about their care and treatment. The practice had taken action to make improvements.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with 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 practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.
  • Policies were available to staff online. However the Whistleblowing policy did not signpost staff to where they would obtain external support if required.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • Ensure that emergency equipment is properly maintained, checked and fit for purpose.

Areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Consider storing emergency medicines in a location that is accessible at all times.
  • Consider improving the process for the review of uncollected prescriptions.
  • Ensure risk assessments are completed in the absence of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice