We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bramhall Park Medical Centre on 26 March 2019 as part of our inspection programme. Our inspection team was led by a CQC inspector and included a GP specialist advisor.

At the last inspection carried out 2 March 2016 we rated the practice as good overall.

Our judgement of the quality of care at this service is based 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.

The practice is rated as good overall.

We rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services because:

•The practice did not have safe and effective systems and processes to manage medicines and equipment.

This means that:

•People who used the service were generally protected from avoidable harm and abuse, however management of patient and emergency medicines and equipment were not always safe.

•Patients had good outcomes because they received effective care and treatment that met their needs.

•Patients were supported, treated with dignity and respect and were involved as partners in their care.

•Patients’ needs were met by the way in which services were organised and delivered.

•The leadership, governance and culture of the practice promoted the delivery of high quality person-centred care.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

•The practice had understood the needs of its population and provided healthy living opportunities and dedicated clinics including Saturday morning “lifestyle” and learning disability clinics, together with walking clubs and access to health software applications.

There were areas where the provider must make improvements:

•Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

There were areas where the provider should make improvements:

•Review the process for additional nurses being authorised for patient group directions (PGDs).

•Include details of the escalation process in letters to complainants.

•Review some infection control measures.

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

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bramhall Park Medical Centre on 2 March 2016. Bramhall Park Medical Centre provides services from two GP surgeries. One is the registered location at Bramhall Park Medical Centre and the branch location is the Shaw Heath Health Centre. We visited both surgeries as part of this inspection. 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 and 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 two areas of outstanding practice:

• The practice facilitated and supported a patient walking group (Walks for Health). Patients told us they valued this.
• The practice encouraged uptake of the children’s flu vaccination by holding children’s nasal flu parties. This had resulted in an uptake in children receiving the flu vaccine.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Review the requirements around portability of disclosure and barring checks (DBS) to ensure staff are appropriately vetted before employment.
• Ensure second cycle clinical audits are undertaken in a timely manner.
• Ensure practice policies and procedures reflect the changes implemented as a result of significant events or complaint investigations.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice