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 Ridge Medical Practice independent doctors service on 12 and 13 January 2023. The service was inspected because whilst it had previously been inspected, it had not been previously rated by CQC.
The service specialises in the triage, assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
A non-clinical partner 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.
We reviewed feedback from patients following consultations and treatment. The responses showed high levels of patient satisfaction with the services received.
Our key findings were:
- The service was provided on a referral basis from the patient’s own NHS GP, and was accessible to people who chose to use it.
- Waiting times were minimised and within agreed targets.
- Patient treatment was safely managed.
- The service had systems in place to identify, investigate and learn from incidents relating to the safety of patients and staff members.
- There were policies, processes and practices in place to safeguard patients from abuse.
- Information regarding patients was comprehensive and was effectively shared with other health and care providers as appropriate.
- Patient outcomes, complaints and incidents were evaluated, analysed and reviewed as part of quality improvement processes. However, we saw that clinical audit had lapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Staff had the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to deliver the care and treatment offered by the service.
- There was a clear leadership structure, with governance frameworks which supported the delivery of quality care.
- The service encouraged and valued feedback from patients, and used this for quality improvement purposes.
We saw the following outstanding practice:
The provider had established a weekly multidisciplinary team meeting with the neurosurgery team from the local hospital NHS trust. This provided a forum for advice and guidance, allowed the advance discussion of potential neurosurgery referrals, and shortened patient waiting times.
The area where the provider should make improvement is:
- The provider should re-establish clinical audits processes within the service.
Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA
Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services