The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

The Alastair Ross Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Breightmet Health Centre,, Breightmet Fold Lane, Breightmet,, Bolton, Lancashire, BL2 6NT (01204) 463800

Provided and run by:
The Alastair Ross Medical Practice

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Alastair Ross Medical Practice 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 The Alastair Ross Medical Practice, you can give feedback on this service.

6 December 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about The Alastair Ross Medical Practice on 6 December 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.

During a routine inspection

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating April 2016 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection 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 comprehensive inspection at The Alastair Ross Medical Centre on 4 December 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 had appropriate systems to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from abuse. All staff received up-to-date safeguarding and safety training appropriate to their role.
  • The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
  • GPs were actively engaged with the Bolton Integrated Neighbourhood Team so they were aware of health care trends in the Bolton area. They also held regular multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss individual patient’s health care to ensure they received the care and support they needed.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they could access care when they needed it.
  • The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. It took account of patient individual needs and preferences so they received the right care and treatment.
  • Leaders had the capacity and skills to deliver high-quality, sustainable care. They were knowledgeable about issues and priorities relating to the quality and future of services. They understood the challenges and were addressing them.
  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

21 April 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Alastair Ross Medical Practice

on 21 April 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 GP or nurse 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:

We saw evidence that lessons were shared and action was taken to improve safety in the practice. However there was no formal system to review if actions taken following significant events had been effective and sustained. The provider should take action to incorporate such a review as part of their quality assurance processes related to significant events.

Although the patient information leaflet identifies how complainants can escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) if desired this information was not provided in letters sent from the practice to complainants. The provider should take action to ensure this information is provided as an enclosure or addendum to letters to complainants.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice