The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Mid Devon Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Witheridge Medical Centre , Cannington Road., Witheridge, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8EZ (01884) 860205

Provided and run by:
Mid Devon Medical Practice

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Mid Devon Medical Practice 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 Mid Devon Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

25 February 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mid Devon Medical Practice on 25 February 2020.

We carried out an inspection of this service due to the length of time since the last inspection. Following our review of the information available to us, including information provided by the practice, we focused our inspection on the following key questions: Safe, Effective and Well Led.

Because of the assurance received from our review of information we carried forward the ratings for the following key questions: Caring and Responsive.

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 and good for all population groups.

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.
  • Patient satisfaction was high with improved consultation about developments at the practice.
  • There was a positive training culture, which encouraged staff development and workforce succession within primary medical services.

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

  • Continue to explore ways to increase uptake of childhood immunisations.
  • Continue to review arrangements to improve the uptake of cervical 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

10 October 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This announced focused inspection was carried out on 10 October 2017. The focus of the inspection was to determine whether medicines management and infection control systems were embedded and reducing any potential risks to patients and staff.

At the previous comprehensive inspection on 27 October 2014, we identified potential risks in the timing of when scripts were signed by the prescribing GP and the security of controlled drugs (medicines requiring additional monitoring and secure storage). A legal requirement was made in regard to these issues. In March 2015, the published overall rating for the practice was Good. The practice submitted an action plan to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which we monitored. A desktop review was completed in August 2015 to follow up the improvements made by the practice to address the shortfalls in medicines management. The full comprehensive report for the October 2014 inspection and August 2015 desktop review can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Mid Devon Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Overall the practice is rated as Good

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems ensuring that controlled drugs were being managed and held securely at all sites and that all repeat prescriptions were being signed prior to giving medicines to patients. Governance had been strengthened around medicines management with the employment of a practice pharmacist manager responsible for monitoring and development of procedures.

  • Infection control arrangements had improved with audits seen demonstrating that learning and actions had led to sustained change and provide assurance of risk management.

  • Engagement with patients continued to be an area for development. Work was continuing with this to encourage patients to value the patient participation group (PPG) as an important way to provide feedback and be involved in the development of the service.

  • Succession planning and implementation of GP recruitment and retention was effective, within the context of the severe national shortage of GPs. An additional GP partner had joined the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

27 October 2014

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Mid Devon Medical Practice was inspected on Monday 27 October 2014. This was a comprehensive inspection covering the main location at Witheridge and two branch surgeries.

Mid Devon Medical Practice provides primary medical services to people living in Witheridge and surrounding villages in Devon covering approximately 300 square miles. The practice consists of three GP surgeries based at Witheridge, Morchard Bishop and Cheriton Fitzpane. All three surgeries have dispensaries, which we inspected on the same day.

The practice provides services to a diverse population. At the time of our inspection there were approximately 5,000 patients registered at the service with a team of three GP partners. GP partners held managerial and financial responsibility for running the business.

Patients who use the practice have access to community staff including district nurses, community psychiatric nurses, health visitors, physiotherapists, mental health staff, counsellors, chiropodist and midwives.

The practice is rated as GOOD. Our key findings were as follows:

  • Patients reported having good access to appointments at the practice and liked having a named GP which improved their continuity of care. The practice was clean, well-organised, had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients.
  • Feedback we received from patients about their care and treatment was consistently positive. The culture of the practice was patient centred. Staff were motivated and inspired to offer kind and compassionate care and worked to overcome obstacles to achieving this. Views of external stakeholders were very positive and were aligned with our findings.
  • The practice was well-led and had a clear leadership structure in place whilst retaining a sense of mutual respect and team work. There were systems in place to monitor and improve quality and identify risk and systems to manage emergencies.
  • Information received about the practice prior to and during the inspection demonstrated the practice performed comparatively and in some instances better when compared with all other practices within the clinical commissioning group (CCG) area. These areas included cervical screening for women with complex mental health needs and annual health checks of patients with a learning disability.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice including:

  • The care and treatment of patients with long term conditions at the practice was effective. There were several examples of latest developments and equipment being used to treat people, which resulted in early diagnosis and a more responsive approach to treatment. Research carried out by one of the GP partners had led to patients benefitting from increased knowledge, early diagnosis and more accurate monitoring of hypertension. As a result, patients with early signs of potential long term conditions which put them at risk of strokes were detected and commenced treatment sooner.
  • The service was responsive and compassionate with patients who had mental health needs. Staff were innovative in the way they engaged with patients with complex mental health needs. As a result, the practice was performing better when compared nationally with regard to health screening for vulnerable groups of people.
  • The involvement in a pilot scheme and continued use of a centrifuge had increased the lifespan of blood samples so that patients did not have to travel for up to five hours on public transport to the local hospital.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

  • Ensure that repeat prescriptions are signed by a GP before the medicines are given to the patient.
  • Review how controlled drugs are handled to ensure that the standard operating procedures are followed.

In addition the provider should:

  • Record the audits of infection control arrangements to demonstrate that learning and actions have led to sustained change and provide assurance of risk management.
  • Consider other options, such as a virtual patient participation group (PPG) to engage patients in the on-going development of the service.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice