The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Kings Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

23 Kings Avenue, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5LP (020) 8504 0122

Provided and run by:
Kings Medical Centre

All Inspections

05 October 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Kings Medical Centre on 5 October 2023. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Safe - good

Effective - good

Caring - good

Responsive - good

Well-led - good

Following our previous inspection on 23 October 2015, 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 Kings 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. In this case, the practice was selected for inspection due to the length of time since our previous inspection.

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 :

  • An announced site visit.
  • 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.
  • Speaking with a member of the Patient Participation Group
  • Speaking with one local care home.

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 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.
  • 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:

  • Monitoring training and appraisals to ensure there are updated according to the practice’s own schedule and in line with national guidance.
  • Continue to develop its approach to infection prevention and control to ensure the practice achieves full compliance with standards.
  • Take steps to prioritise processing of information relating to new patients.
  • Take action to continue to promote a culture of reporting of incidents, concerns and near misses.
  • Continue to improve uptake of cervical cancer screening.
  • Complete all necessary sections of ‘Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR)’ documentation.
  • Continue efforts to identify and explore ways to effectively support carers.

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

20 July 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a desk based review for Kings Medical C entre on 20 July 2016. This was to follow up on actions we asked the provider to take after our announced comprehensive inspection on 23 October 2015.

During the inspection in October 2015, we identified that the practice had not considered the need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check for all staff who acted as a chaperone. Some staff had not received training to undertake the role.

The practice wrote to tell us how they would make improvements and we have reviewed records they provided to show their actions had been completed.

Our key findings were;

  • Staff acting as chaperones had received appropriate training and safety checks in order to safeguard patients.

There was one area where the provider should make an improvement:

  • Review the provision for chaperone training so that staff are updated in the responsibilities of the role.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

23 October 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Kings Medical Centre on 23 October 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 report incidents and near misses. They were analysed and areas for improvement identified.
  • The practice had an effective recruitment process and staff were suitably qualified and experienced.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
  • Staff were aware of relevant legislation in relation to consent including the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
  • Clinical performance was monitored regularly and performance against targets was high. All staff understood their roles and worked towards achieving the targets and objectives that had been set.
  • The practice was aware of the needs of their patient population group and tailored their services accordingly. Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Data available to us, feedback on CQC comment cards and information received from the patients we spoke with reflected that patients were very satisfied with the services provided.
  • Patients resident in care homes received regular reviews of their care and treatment and their needs were being met.
  • The practice had a clear vision and had identified the objectives of the practice. This was monitored, regularly reviewed and discussed with staff.
  • There were high levels of staff satisfaction and staff worked as part of a cohesive unit. There was visible leadership and staff felt included and valued.

However there were areas of practice where the provider must make improvements:

  • Ensure a risk assessment is in place and / or a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check has been received before any member of staff can undertake chaperone duties. Ensure those staff that are undertaking chaperone duties have the right knowledge to carry out their role.

There were also areas where the provider should make improvements;

  • Ensure the defibrillator is regularly checked to ensure it is in working order and ready for use.
  • Improve the system for monitoring staff training to ensure that the training required and frequency is identified and followed.
  • Improve the recording of meetings that take place at the practice so that staff are involved in discussions about safety incidents and complaints where relevant. The practice should also include an audit trail to reflect that improvements identified have been actioned and by whom.
  • Provide a sharps injury policy for the information of staff and ensure they are aware of the contents.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice