This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating 01 2015 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive/ inspection at Central Gateshead Medical group on 7 June 2018 as part of our current programme on inspection.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had some clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients reported that they were treat with dignity and respect, involved in decisions about their care and treatment and able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

• The practice hosted a weekly patient social group which was attended by approximately 18 core members. The group was open to any patient registered with the practice but was primarily aimed at patients who may be at risk of social isolation. Activities included gardening, quizzes, theatre trips and charity fundraising.

The areas where the provider should make improvements:

• Take steps to assure themselves that locum clinicians employed by the practice are up to date with mandatory training requirements.
• Assure themselves that all potential health and safety risks to staff and patients are documented and assessed.
• Consider ways to improve Quality Outcomes Framework clinical exception reporting rates to ensure they are comparable with local and national averages.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Central Gateshead Medical Group on 27 January 2015. Overall the practice was rated as good. They were good at providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. They were also good for providing services for all of the population groups.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed;
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and training planned;
• The practice had systems in place for completing clinical audit cycles to review and improve patient care;
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment;
• The practice had recently appointed and was in the process of training a Primary Care Navigator. This role had been implemented to direct patients to the most relevant sources of advice or support locally;
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand;
• 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.

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

• Continue to implement identified improvements to protect patients from the risks associated with cleanliness and infection control.
• Make sure there are robust processes in place to check sterile equipment, such as syringes, are within date for use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice