The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Dr Sekhar Karyampudi Also known as Vittoria Medical Centre - Dr. Karyampudi

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Vittoria Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 3RH (0151) 650 1098

Provided and run by:
Dr Sekhar Karyampudi and Dr. Karuna Karyampudi

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Dr Sekhar Karyampudi is an NHS GP practice which provides primary care services to patients in Birkenhead, Wirral. We carried out an announced assessment of one quality statement, equity in access, under the key question Responsive at Dr Sekhar Karyampudi on 19th February 2024. We carried out the assessment as part of our work to understand how practices are trying 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 than ever being provided. However, in 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. The assessment of the quality statement equity of access includes looking at what practices are doing innovatively to improve patient access to primary care and sharing this information to drive improvement. Overall, the practice is rated as good and the key question responsive continues to be rated as providing a good service. We found that the practice had organised services to meet patients’ needs, particularly those who were most likely to have difficulty accessing care. The practice sought out and used feedback and other data and information to monitor and improve access.

5 February 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Sekhar Karyampudi on 5 February 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

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.

We found that:

  • The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm. However, the Legionella risk assessment was last reviewed in 2013 and in need of updating.
  • There was equipment and medicines for use in emergencies and these were checked and documented.
  • Blank prescriptions were logged in and out for use at the practice, however they were left in printers overnight and in unused rooms.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs. We saw that clinicians treated and cared for patients in line with current best practice guidelines and legislation. However, there was no formal system of implementing these guidelines.
  • The practice understood the needs of its patients’ population and delivered care and treatment tailored to the individual’s needs.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care. Feedback from patients was very positive about care, treatment and access at this practice.
  • 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. There was evidence of clinical and internal audits being undertaken which demonstrated outcome improvements. However, there was no formal audit programme based on national, local and service priorities.

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

  • Review and update the Legionella risk assessment.
  • Review the high-risk medication monitoring protocol and ensure all patients are monitored and reviews are conducted according to protocol.
  • Review the security of printer prescription pads in the practice to ensure they are safe at all times.
  • Continue to monitor and actively encourage uptake of childhood immunisations.
  • Review the system for implementation of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
  • Implement an audit programme/plan that is based on national, local and practice priorities.

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

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

13 November 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Sekhar Karyampudi on 13 November 2015. Overall the practice is rated as GOOD.

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

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • 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 and planned.
  • Patients were treated with care, compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. They were not rushed at appointments and full explanations of their treatment were given. They valued their practice.
  • Feedback from patients about their care was consistently and strongly positive.
  • Information about services was available.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with routine and 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.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and they should ensure:

  • When patient safety and other relevant alerts and guidance are followed, actions taken are recorded.
  • Informal and verbal complaints are recorded and analysed to learn lessons and improve the service.
  • Staff are trained and updated in infection control procedures and infection control audits are undertaken on a regular basis.
  • Staff who act as chaperones are appropriately trained and checked to ensure suitability to undertake the role.
  • The complaints policy and procedure is in line with national guidance and displayed and available in the practice for patients.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice