The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Bridgegate Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Winchester Street, Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, LA13 9SH (01229) 820304

Provided and run by:
Bridgegate Medical Centre

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Bridgegate Medical Centre on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Bridgegate Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

7 June 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Bridgegate Medical Centre on 7 June 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

15 Jun 2018

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection May 2015 – Good)

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 inspection at Bridgegate Medical Centre on 15 June 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
  • The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. They ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
  • The practice held monthly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings with a respiratory consultant to discuss patients with chronic respiratory conditions. There was also a quarterly MDT meeting with a paediatrician.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • The practice had identified over 5% of their patient list as carers. They had two carers champions who worked closely with local carers agengies to support patients who cared for others.
  • The practice engaged well with the local community, working with schools and other organisations to promote healthy living.
  • We saw good and varied examples of social prescribing. For example, patients could be referred to weight loss groups.
  • Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
  • There were clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability to support good governance and management.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Check that staff who work at the practice have had recommended immunisations and that this is documented.
  • Make information about how to complain available to patients in the waiting area.
  • Make learning from complaints more robust.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

7 May 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bridgegate Medical Centre on 7 May 2015. The practice was rated as good for all domains and for all population groups.

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

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified.
  • The practice had achieved a score of 100% of the percentage points available to them for Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) results for the practice for the year 2013 / 2014. QOF is a voluntary incentive scheme for GP practices in the UK for providing recommended treatments for the most commonly found clinical conditions.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. Data showed that patients rated the practice higher than others for several aspects of care. We saw that staff were considerate with patients, treated them with understanding and maintained confidentiality.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patients we spoke with indicated they felt they could obtain appointments, including urgent appointments, when needed. The practice were aware of the needs of the local population and there was good continuity of care.
  • 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 they acted on.

We saw areas of outstanding practice including:

  • The practice had set up a maternity services liaison group with one of the GP partners the lead for this. The aim being to work with young mothers, in particular teenage mothers, to discuss and offer support to them whilst pregnant and after they gave birth to their child.
  • The practice was a member of the local education and skills partnership and were engaging with a local primary school to make a health promotion video, therefore increasing the awareness of good health to children.

However, there were some areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

  • Improve systems in place to maintain the security of blank computer prescription forms.
  • Improve the systems in place to monitor when the privacy curtains in consulting rooms are cleaned.
  • Carry out a health and safety risk assessment and regular fire evacuation drills.
  • Formally appraise the practice manager.
  • Carry out two cycle clinical audits.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

07 May 2014

During a routine inspection

Bridgegate Medical Centre is located in a purpose built building near the centre of Barrow in Furness.  The practice provides primary medical treatment and services to people of all ages. At the time of our inspection approximately 8,500 patients were registered with the practice. The practice registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 April 2013 to provide the following regulated activities:-

Diagnostic and screening procedures, Family planning, Maternity and midwifery services, Surgical procedures, Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

We found that the service was effective in meeting patient needs and had taken positive steps to ensure people who had difficulty accessing the service were enabled to do so.

Patients said staff were caring and doctors and nurses explained treatments and choices available to them. Patients told us they would recommend the service to family and friends and people new to the area.

We found policies and procedures to support staff whilst carrying out their roles were robust and up to date. Staff had received appropriate training and support to allow them to carry out their roles to a high standard.

We found the practice was well led and managed by the lead GP’s and the senior team.  All staff shared the values and beliefs of delivering high quality responsive care to their patients. We found that the clinical leadership and accountability framework of the practice nursing team could be improved.