Huddersfield medical practice raises it game: Inadequate to Good and taken out of special measures

The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Lepton & Kirkheaton Surgeries , Huddersfield to be Good following a follow-up inspection carried out in November 2016.

CQC had previously inspected the practice in January 2016 and had found serious concerns. As a result the practice was rated as inadequate and placed into special measures.

In the report, just published, inspectors rated the practice as Good in five domains – safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness and well-led. Overall, the practice has been rated as Good. A full report of the inspection has been published at: http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-564501590

Following this inspection, CQC found that the practice had taken action to remedy the shortfalls from the last inspection. There was now a far more open and transparent approach to safety and effective systems were in place for reporting and recording significant events. In addition, inspectors could now see that risks to patients were being assessed and well managed.

CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in the North, Alison Holbourn says:

 “I congratulate Lepton & Kirkheaton Surgeries on the excellent progress the practice has made. Since our last inspection it was clear that patients were now being treated with more compassion, dignity and respect and inspectors could see they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

Since the previous inspection, improvements had been made to the monitoring of temperature sensitive medicines and infection control procedures. Furthermore, we could now see that lessons were widely shared and reflected upon to make sure action was taken to improve safety and patient outcomes in the practice.

“The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs, patients saying they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.

“Since the previous inspection, the practice had developed a clear vision and strategy to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients and the appropriate training and support for staff. Encouragingly all members of the team were clear about the vision and their responsibilities in relation to it.

“In the eleven months since the practice was placed in special measures it is evident that it has made very good progress I pleased to be able to say that this service is now out of special measures. This recognises the significant improvements made to the quality of care provided at this practice and I feel sure that the practice will continue to improve.”