Archived: Eastcliff Medical Practice Also known as EAST CLIFF PRACTICE

This service is rated as Good overall.

The key questions 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 the location Eastcliff Medical Practice, which is operated by the provider Whitstable Medical Practice, on 7 September 2022 as part of our inspection programme.

Whitstable Medical Practice provides dermatology clinics at the location Eastcliff Medical Practice, run by a GP (with a specialist interest in dermatology) and a consultant dermatologist, for adults and children referred to them by GPs in the area.

Our key findings were:

• The service had clear systems to help keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse.
• There were systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.
• The service had systems to learn and make improvements when things went wrong.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care as well as treatment were delivered in line with current legislation, standards and guidance (relevant to this service).
• The service was involved in quality improvement activity.
• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.
• Staff treated patients with kindness, respect as well as compassion and helped patients to be involved in decisions about care and treatment.
• The service organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs as well as preferences.
• Patients were able to access care and treatment from the service within an appropriate time frame.
• There were clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability to support good governance and management.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Continue the process to add the regulated activity of treatment of disease, disorder or injury as well as update partnership changes to the provider registration with CQC in a timely manner.
• Continue with plans to carry out annual fire drills.
• Continue to complete the annual infection prevention and control audit as well as develop an action plan to address issues identified.
• Continue with plans to repeat the annual health and safety risk assessment on 4 October 2022 as well as develop action plans to address any issues identified.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services