The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Hylton Medical Group

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Pallion Medical Centre, Hylton Road, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, SR4 7XF (0191) 565 8598

Provided and run by:
Dr Basim Gamal Othman Al-Khalidi

All Inspections

23rd January 2024

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Hylton Medical Group on 23 January 2024. Overall, the practice is rated as Good.

Safe – not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Effective - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Caring - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

Responsive – Outstanding.

Well-led - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection.

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hylton Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out a targeted assessment of the responsive key question. Targeted assessments enable us to focus on certain key questions to explore particular aspects of care.

How we carried out the inspection/review

• This assessment was carried out without a site visit.

• Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.

• Requesting evidence from the provider and reviewing the appointment system.

Our findings

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

  • what we found when we inspected
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We found that:

  • The practice had a streamlined and flexible approach to access.
  • The practice demonstrated use of involving patients in changes and improvements relating to access.
  • The practice made reasonable adjustments when patients found it difficult to access services.
  • National GP patient survey results relating to access were consistently positive over time.
  • The practice consistently reviewed feedback from patients and changed their approach to access to meet the needs of the patient population.
  • The practice understood the needs of its local population and had carried out an in-depth analysis of their patient population and developed services accordingly.
  • The practice was proactive in identifying initiatives to improve the care for their patients and they delivered care which was accessible and promoted equality.
  • The practice liaised regularly with the community services, such as district nurses, social workers, frailty teams, to discuss and manage the needs of patients.
  • Complaints were dealt with in a timely manner and actioned appropriately.
  • The practice considered the access needs of local population within the Primary Care Network.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Health Care

18 March 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Hylton Medical Group on 18 March 2019 as part of our inspection programme (previous ratings April 2015 – inadequate, February 2016 – requires improvement, February 2017 – inadequate, September 2017 – good).

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

  • what we found when we inspected
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall and good for all population groups, except people with long-term conditions, which we rated as outstanding.

We rated the practice as outstanding for providing responsive services people with long-term conditions because:

  • A system to support patients living with cancer; capturing information about the patient which followed them through primary and secondary care, and offering comprehensive, meaningful health checks, had been developed and successfully implemented. The practice’s approach had been adopted by many other local practices.

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:

  • Review their arrangements for ensuring that staff have received the relevant vaccinations.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

28 September 2017

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of Hylton Medical Group on 21 April 2015. The practice was judged to be inadequate and placed in special measures.

On 4 February 2016 we carried out an announced comprehensive inspection and found that improvements had been made. In recognition of the improvements made the practice was rated overall as requires improvement.

We carried out a further announced comprehensive inspection on 2 February 2017. The overall rating for the practice was inadequate and the practice was placed in special measures for another period of six months. The full comprehensive reports on the previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hylton Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was undertaken following the period of special measures and was an announced comprehensive inspection on 28 September and 3 October 2017. Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • The practice had made significant progress since the last inspection and had addressed all areas of concern.
  • We found improvements in the overall governance arrangements, clinical governance, leadership and clinical effectiveness.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients said they were able to get an appointment with a GP when they needed one, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure in place and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which they acted on.
  • Staff throughout the practice worked well together as a team.

The area where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Take steps to record the distribution of pre-printed prescription form stock within the practice.

I am taking this service out of special measures. This recognises the significant improvements made to the quality of care provided by the service.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice