The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Warley Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Ambrose House, Kingsway, Oldbury, West Midlands, B68 0RT (0121) 421 8400

Provided and run by:
Warley Medical Centre

All Inspections

26 January 2024

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a targeted assessment of the responsive key question at Warley Medical Centre. The rating for the responsive key question is Requires Improvement. As the other domains were not reviewed during this assessment, the other ratings of good will be carried forward from the previous inspection and the overall rating of the service will remain Good.

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

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

Why we carried out this assessment

We carried out a targeted assessment of the responsive key question. Targeted assessments enable us to focus on certain key questions to explore particular aspects of care.

How we carried out the assessment

  • This assessment was carried out without a site visit.
  • Conducted staff interviews using video conferencing system.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider and reviewing their appointment system.

Our findings

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

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

We found that:

  • Patients received care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Patients could not always access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • The National GP Patient Survey results related to patient access were below the national average, but the provider in partnership with the PPG and ICB were improving access arrangements. However, this needed further time to embed the actions they had taken.
  • The provider had in place a complaints process which enabled patients to raise concerns, which the provider acted on and used to improve the service.
  • We found while patients had positive comments as to their experience in accessing a GP, there were also some negative comments.

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

Continue to identify ways to improve patient satisfaction in relation to access to the practice by phone and the appointment system.

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 March 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Warley Medical Centre on 14 March 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.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs. The practice had implemented GP review clinics, for patients who required follow up appointments to ensure continuity of care for the patient.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice had devised their own clinical templates for the review of patients to ensure all clinical indicators were met and patients received the appropriate management of their conditions.
  • 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.

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

  • Review current systems for the recording of safeguarding information to ensure all registers are up to date.
  • Consider the health and well being of the nursing team with the reduced number of nursing staff.
  • Ensure all staff are aware of how to access practice policies.
  • Continue to analyse patient feedback and survey results to improve access.
  • Continue to identify carers to offer them support where needed.

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

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

3 September 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Warley Medical Centre on 3 September 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

  • Incidents were being reported and learning shared with staff. There were systems in place to maintain the health and safety of patients and staff at the practice.
  • The practice had effective procedures in place that ensured care and treatment was delivered in line with appropriate standards. The practice was proactive in promoting good health.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed including those relating to recruitment checks.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Patients we spoke with and those who completed our comments cards were very positive about their experiences of the care and treatment provided by staff. Patients said they were treated with 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 in the practice and on the practice website. The practice provided services that reflected the needs of the patients.
  • Most patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP. However, some said that access was an issue especially with a GP of their choice. Urgent appointments were available the same day and the practice had introduced a walk in clinic to improve access.
  • The premises were purpose built and had good facilities to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The staff had established leadership roles and responsibilities with clear lines of accountability.

We saw areas of outstanding practice including:

  • The practice had developed a minor surgery audit which was used to reduce its complication rates.
  • The practice had an above average emergency admission rate that was higher than the national average. The practice recognised a significant contributory factor and involved other organisations such as the CCG and the local authority to try and address the issues.

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

Importantly the provider should

  • Develop an overall infection control policy, ensure regular audits are carried out and staff receive training appropriate for their role.
  • Make all staff are aware of the contingency plan so that all are aware of the appropriate actions to take when required.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice