The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Linthorpe Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

378 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS5 6HA (01642) 856066

Provided and run by:
Linthorpe Surgery

All Inspections

5 October 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Linthorpe Surgery on 21 September 2023 and 5 October 2023. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Safe - good

Effective - good

Caring - good

Responsive – good

Well-led - good

We have rated the practice as good overall and for all outcomes.

Following our previous inspection in September 2015, the practice was rated good overall and for all key questions.

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Linthorpe Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out this inspection in line with our inspection priorities. This inspection included the key questions of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

How we carried out the inspection/review

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.
  • Sending questionnaires to staff and other stakeholders

Our findings

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 found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm. There were comprehensive systems for incident recording, reporting and analysis. There were thorough safeguarding procedures with good local links with other agencies.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs. There was a comprehensive programme of clinical audit, and evidence of quality improvement initiatives improving patient outcomes.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice continued to try to ensure that patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The practice had transitioned to a Modern General Practice model and were able to demonstrate increased ease of access and patient satisfaction.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care. There was a strong cohesive staff team, who spoke positively about their leaders. Clinical leads took ownership of their respective areas and communicated required changes in a clear and timely manner.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Continue to take steps to proactively identify carers and increase the numbers of carers on the practice register to 3% of the practice population.
  • Carry out a full review of the asthma management process to identify where additional improvements can be made.

We saw the following examples of outstanding practice:

  • Patients were met in reception by a waiting room co-ordinator who signposted patients on an individual basis. This included to a quiet private area where patients could register in person or complete an e-consult with help from a member of staff.

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

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Health Care

22 September 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr P Ellenger & Partners (The Linthorpe Surgery) on 22 September 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • 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 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 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.

We saw some areas of outstanding practice;

  • The practice was part of the STAR (South Tees Access and Response) scheme which was introducing extended opening hours from 7.00am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 8.00am to 8.00pm on weekends. The Linthorpe Surgery was one of the sites the service would be delivered from.

  • The practice provided support to young people at the child and adolescent mental health wards at a local hospital. A GP visited three wards at the hospital once a week to assess and treat any problems the young people may wish to see the GP for.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice