We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 6 November 2017 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Victory House is registered with CQC as a private GP practice, covering Ribble Valley and the wider geographical area. The practice is owned and run by Dr Mary Adams with support from administration staff. The range of services available includes private primary care consultations, examination and management, health screening, chronic disease management, men’s health, women’s health checks and immunisations. The total practice patient population is 400 patients. Appointments can be booked over the phone, in person and by email. These can be booked in advance with emergency slots available on the day. Telephone consultations are available and the practice has extended hours on a Saturday morning.

The clinic is registered with CQC to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
• Surgical procedures
• Maternity and midwifery services

The provider is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

As part of our inspection we asked for CQC comment cards to be completed by patients prior to our inspection. We received 18 comment cards which were all positive about the standard of care received. Patients said the clinic was always clean, they found it easy to get an appointment and they felt staff were respectful and treated them with dignity. We spoke with two patients during the inspection whose comments aligned with these views.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• The clinic had systems to minimise risks to patient safety.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Patients said they were treated with care, compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• The provider offered consultations to anyone who requested and paid the appropriate fee, and did not discriminate against any client group. During our inspection we observed that members of staff were courteous and very helpful to patients and treated them with dignity and respect.

• Systems were in place to monitor complaints.

• The service 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 service proactively sought feedback via patient surveys from patients, which it acted on.

• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the need for a Legionella risk assessment for the building.

• Review the information about how to make a complaint or raise concerns that is readily available for patients.