21 November 2022
During a routine inspection
We carried out an unannounced focused inspection at Adam House Medical Centre on 21 November 2022 and at the branch practice Hillside Medical Centre on 22 November 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as requires improvement.
We rated the key questions inspected as follows:
Safe - requires improvement
Effective – requires improvement
Caring - good
Responsive - good
Well-led – requires improvement
Following our previous inspection on 21 and 25 October 2021, the practice was rated requires improvement overall and for all key questions except caring, which was rated as good.
The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Adam House Medical Centre 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 and to follow up on previous breaches identified at the last inspection.
How we carried out the inspection
This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.
This included:
- Conducting clinical interviews.
- 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 site visit.
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:
- There were ineffective systems in place for processing information relating to new patients including the summarising of new patient notes. We found hundreds of patients records awaiting action.
- The practice had a system in place for the actioning of significant events and incidents, however we were unable to gain assurances that there was a formal process in place for shared learning to mitigate future risk.
- The practice had been through a constant change of management in the recent months and this had impacted on systems being monitored. For example: we were unable to gain assurances that all staff files were complete and staff had the appropriate immunisation status according to their role.
- Risk management processes were in place and we found some assessments of risks had been completed. These included fire safety and a range of health and safety assessments, however the premises risk assessment was out of date.
- We found the premises visibly clean and tidy, but due to staff shortages within the nursing team, the practice currently had no infection control lead to ensure guidelines were being followed appropriately.
- Patient feedback was negative in response to access and appointment availability. The practice had opened up the branch practice 2 mornings a week to increase appointments and also had employed a regular GP locum to provide further appointments.
- 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.
We found a breach of regulation. The provider must:
- Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
In addition the provider should:
- Review the current system for sharing learning of incidents and complaints
- Continue to encourage patients to attend immunisation national screening programmes such as cervical screening.
- Review and update the current processes for the completion of medicine reviews
- Monitor staff training
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 Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services