The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Dr Spencer and Partners Also known as Burton Latimer Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Higham Road, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5PU (01536) 723566

Provided and run by:
Dr Spencer and Partners

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Dr Spencer and Partners 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 Dr Spencer and Partners, you can give feedback on this service.

22 January 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Dr Spencer and Partners on 22 January 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.

23 May 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Spencer and Partners on 23 May 2017. 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Lessons learnt were shared to make sure action was taken to improve safety in the practice. Staff we spoke with confirmed lessons were shared however we did not see documentation that supported these discussions had taken place.
  • The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
  • Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. They used clinical tools available on the electronic patient records and a system called Pathfinder to deliver care and treatment.
  • 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. However some aspects of nurse interactions with patients and access to care and treatment were rated below the local and national averages.
  • 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 we spoke with said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice had systems to support carers.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
  • The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The practice engaged with the patient participation group (PPG). However the PPG felt their skills could be further utilised in many aspects of patient care delivery and satisfaction.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Continue to ensure significant events and incidents are discussed at staff meetings and minutes reflect discussions on lessons learnt and changes implemented as a result.
  • Continue to monitor and ensure improvement to national GP patient survey results.
  • Ensure effective arrangements are in place to seek feedback from patients via patient participation group discussions and friends and family test.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

20 August 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced inspection of Dr Spencer and Partners on 20 August 2015. This was a comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act (2008) as part of our regulatory functions. The practice achieved an overall rating of requires improvement. Specifically, we found the practice to require improvement for providing safe, effective, responsive and well-led services. We found it to be good for providing caring services. Consequently, it requires improvement for providing services for older people; people with long-term conditions; families, children and young people; working age people; people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Systems were in place to identify and respond to concerns about the safeguarding of adults and children.
  • We saw patients receiving respectful treatment from staff. Patients felt they were seen by friendly and helpful staff. Patients reported feeling satisfied with the care and treatment they received.
  • The practice offered a number of services designed to promote patients’ health and wellbeing and prevent the onset of illness.
  • The practice acted upon best practice guidance to further improve patient care.
  • The management and meeting structure ensured that appropriate clinical decisions were reached and action was taken.
  • The practice appeared clean.
  • Systems to ensure the appropriate management of medicines were lacking or not fully implemented.
  • Adequate procedures for completing the required background checks on staff were lacking.
  • A programme of repeated (full cycle) clinical audit which demonstrates learning and the effectiveness of any changes made was lacking.
  • Some patient feedback was that access to appointments was poor and getting through to the practice by phone was difficult. The wait for some advance release pre-bookable appointments was long.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Ensure an appropriate system is in place for the safe use and management of medicines and medical consumables, including those used in an emergency.
  • Ensure that all applicable staff receive a criminal records check and that the required information is available in respect of the relevant persons employed.
  • Ensure there is a programme of repeated (full cycle) clinical audit which demonstrates learning and the effectiveness of any changes made. Ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the outcomes and learning of any audits completed.
  • Take steps to reduce the waiting time for routine pre-bookable appointments and improve patients’ access to the practice by telephone.

In addition the provider should:

  • Ensure that systems designed to assess the risk of and to prevent, detect and control the spread of infection are fully implemented and audited appropriately. Staff should be trained in relation to infection control processes and procedures.
  • Ensure that the non-clinical staff yet to complete cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) essential training do so.
  • Ensure that all staff employed are supported and are receiving the appropriate supervision.
  • Take steps to improve staff communication and the opportunities for staff to be involved in discussions about the strategic direction of the practice and to have their views considered.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice