The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Woodlands Park Health Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Canterbury Way, Wideopen, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE13 6JJ (0191) 236 2366

Provided and run by:
Woodlands Park Health 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 Woodlands Park Health 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 Woodlands Park Health Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

19 December 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Woodlands Park Health Centre on 19 December 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.

7 September 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 Woodlands Park Health Centre on 3 December 2015. The overall rating for the practice was good; but was requires improvement for providing caring services. The full comprehensive report on the December 2015 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Woodlands Park Health Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 7 September 2017 to review in detail the actions taken by the practice to improve the quality of care.

The practice is rated as good overall including for providing caring services.

Our key findings at this inspection were as follows:

The practice had addressed the issues identified during the previous inspection.

  • The latest published National GP Patient Survey showed that patients’ scores for how they were treated with kindness, dignity, respect and compassion had increased.
  • The survey showed that scores had mostly improved for how patients felt about being involved in care planning and in involvement in decisions about their care and treatment.
  • The practice had implemented an action plan to address the lower scores in the survey.
  • CQC comment cards completed by patients were positive about the standard of care received.
  • Staff were to receive care navigator training and the practice had been more proactive in identifying carers and giving them information about help available to them.

At our previous inspection on 3 December 2015 we said the provider should make improvements in several areas. We saw at this inspection that improvements had been made;

  • Staff had received mandatory training and this was closely monitored using an internal computer software package which provided prompts for the practice manager and staff when training was due.
  • There were no longer any risks associated with transporting medicines to the branch surgery as this had closed in May 2017.
  • Complaints were managed in line with the practice’s complaints policy.

There were areas where the provider still needed to make improvements. At our previous inspection in December 2015 there was limited evidence that clinical audits were used to improve quality outcomes for patients. At this inspection we saw that there was an audit plan in place and some audits were supplied, however there were no two cycle audits. The audits supplied had no clear aims nor were preparation or planning described.

Therefore the provider should:

  • Carry out clearly defined clinical audit which is clearly linked to patient outcomes, monitored for effectiveness and comprises of two cycles to monitor improvements to patient outcomes.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

3 December 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Woodlands Park Medical Centre on 3 December 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 told us they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Most patients also reported feeling cared for, supported and listened to.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available.
  • Patients said they found it difficult to make an appointment with a named GP. Urgent appointments were 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 registered provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • More closely monitor the mandatory training required by staff.
  • Risk assesses the procedure for transporting medicines that require refrigeration to the branch surgery.
  • Review their arrangements for clinical audit at the practice. Clinical audit should be clearly linked to patient outcomes, monitored for effectiveness and comprise of two cycles to monitor improvements to patient outcomes.
  • Review the results of the National GP Patient Survey for areas of improvement in relation to patients’ experience of the practice.
  • Review the management of complaints at the practice, complaints should be managed in line with their agreed complaints policy.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

17 March 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

At a previous inspection we identified shortfalls in the management of infection risks within the practice. We carried out this inspection to check whether action had been taken to address these concerns. We found that improvements had been made to ensure that patients who used the surgery, and the staff who cared for them, were protected against the risk of catching an infection.

We found that the surgery was clean, tidy, well maintained. We found that infection control policies and procedures had been reviewed, and as a result, infection risks within the practice were reduced.

10 December 2013

During a routine inspection

People expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. We saw that staff dealt with enquiries from patients as discretely as possible. One patient told us, 'I feel as if I am listened to and given plenty of time.'

Patients we spoke with were complimentary about the care they received. We saw there were system in place to monitor and review people's care and treatment. Patient told us, 'The nurses here are excellent' and 'It does everything I need it to do.'

The practice had in place safeguarding policies for both children and vulnerable adults. There was an identified lead clinician and regular discussion between staff about any safeguarding or concerning situations.

The practice was well organised and presented as clean, tidy and generally well maintained. However, processes to reduce the risk of infection were not always in place or adhered to.

Staff were supported to obtain appropriate training. Regular meetings took place to discuss clinical issues and matters relevant to the safe running of the practice. General practitioners and nurses employed within the practice were checked to ensure they had an up to date registration with the appropriate professional body.