The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Ripple Road Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

364-370 Ripple Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 9RS 0844 375 6111

Provided and run by:
Ripple Road Medical Centre

All Inspections

14 December 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an announced focused assessment of the key question responsive at Ripple Road Medical Centre on 14 December 2023. Overall, the practice is rated as good and the key question for providing a responsive service is now rated requires improvement.

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 – Requires Improvement.

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

Following our previous inspection in September 2022 the practice was rated good overall and for all key questions.

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

Why we carried out this inspection.

We carried out this assessment as part of our work to understand how practices are working to try to meet people’s demands for access and to better understand the experiences of people who use services and providers.

We recognise the work that GP practices have been engaged in to continue to provide safe, quality care to the people they serve. We know staff are carrying this out whilst the demand for general practice remains exceptionally high, with more appointments being provided than ever. However, this challenging context, access to general practice remains a concern for people.

Our strategy makes a commitment to deliver regulation driven by people’s needs and experiences of care. These assessments of the responsive key question include looking at what practices are doing innovatively to improve patient access to primary care and sharing this information to drive improvement.

How we carried out the assessment

This assessment was carried out remotely. It did not include a site visit.

The process included:

  • Conducting an interview with the provider and members of staff using video conferencing.
  • Reviewing patient feedback from a range of sources.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • Reviewing data, we hold about the provider.
  • Seeking information/feedback from relevant stakeholders.

Our findings

We based our judgement of the responsive key question on a combination of:

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

We found that:

  • During the assessment process, the provider highlighted the actions they have taken to make improvements to access in response to patient feedback. However, the patient GP survey over the last two to three years had remained in parts below the national average and the impact of the improvements carried out by the practice was not yet fully reflected in the GP patient feedback.

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

  • Continue to improve patient access.

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

14 to 27 September 2022

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ripple Road Medical centre from the 14 September to 27 September 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Safe - good.

Effective - good,

Caring – good.

Responsive -good.

Well-led – good.

Following our previous inspection on 16 August 2016, the practice was rated good overall and for all key questions.

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

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out this inspection in line with our inspection priorities. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection which looked at the key questions of whether the service was providing a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led service.

How we carried out the inspection

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.

This included Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.

  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.

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.
  • Information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We found that:

  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of person-centred care.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment was delivered in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance supported by clear pathways and tools.
  • The practice had clear systems, practices and processes to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse.
  • There was a system for recording and acting on safety alerts.
  • The practice had responded promptly to complaints.
  • There were evidence of systems and processes for learning, continuous improvement and innovation.
  • The practice had responded to the patient feedback about access.
  • There was compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels.

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

  • Improve the process for medical reviews so staff always fully document the process.
  • Continue to check health and safety risk assessments are carried out as prescribed in the health and safety and fire regulations.
  • Improve the recording of clinicians’ clinical record reviews.
  • Improve the quality of protocols, so they clearly state staffs responsibilities and a description of the issue and the task.
  • Continue to take further action to meet the national targets for cervical screening and childhood immunisations.

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 Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services

16 August 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ripple Road Medical Centre on 16 August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Patients said 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.
  • The practice 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 practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Continue to work to improve patient satisfaction scores for the nursing service.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice