This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating under old provider July 2015 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

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 Haydon Bridge and Allendale Medical Practice on 6 September 2018 as part of our current inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had some systems in place to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. However, they were not following best practice guidance or their own policy in relation to ensure the cold chain was maintained for medicines requiring refrigeration and needed to strengthen their arrangements for monitoring patients prescribed high risk medicines.
• 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 found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

There was an area where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations. They must:

• Ensure that care and treatment is being provided in a safe way by doing all that is reasonably practicable to mitigate risks to the health and safety of service users.

There were areas where the provider should make improvements. The provider should:

• Review the arrangements for monitoring the stock and expiry dates of emergency medicines in GP bags and consider holding the full range of emergency medicines recommended by best practice guidance.
• Introduce a schedule of planned clinical audit and quality improvement activity.
• Familiarise all staff with the practice business continuity plan and business continuity arrangements.
• Maintain a record in-house of staff immunity status
• Advertise the availability of pre-bookable extended access appointments as part of the Hadrian Extra Care Hub arrangements.

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.