The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Rothbury Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Whitton Bank Road, Rothbury, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7RW

Provided and run by:
Northumbria Primary Care Limited

All Inspections

24 November 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out a targeted assessment of the Rothbury Practice in relation to the responsive key question. This assessment was carried out on 24 November 2023 without a site visit. Overall, the practice is rated as Good. We rated the key question of responsive as Good.

Safe - Good

Effective – Good

Caring - Good

Responsive – Good

Well-led – Good

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

Why we carried out this inspection

This inspection was a targeted assessment of the key question of responsive.

How we carried out the inspection

This inspection was carried remotely.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.

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 good access for their patients. This was reflected in the GP patient survey data and other sources of patient feedback.
  • The practice understood and were responsive to the changing needs of its local population. This included assessing their future needs and planning services accordingly.
  • The practice had an active Patient Participation Group.
  • The practice dealt with complaints in a timely manner and learned from them.

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 Healthcare

25/11/2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced inspection at Rothbury Practice on 25 November 2019. We looked at whether the service was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

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.

  • The practice had not always ensured that all safety alerts around medicines were actioned. The practice was not able to demonstrate that they had checked all of their emergency medicines systematically. Some prescriptions had not been stored securely. These matters had been identified on the inspection and the practice took immediate action. We were assured that these safety issues had been addressed satisfactorily.
  • The practice had not met national targets for cervical screening.
  • There was high exception rate reporting.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
  • Health and safety, fire safety and infection control checks and audits were completed for all sites.
  • Patients commented that staff were caring and professional.
  • Staff were well trained and competent in the delivery of good patient care.
  • The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Establish systems to ensure all emergency medicines are correctly checked.
  • Continue to improve the monitoring of medicines alerts.
  • Continue to explore the practice systems for recording exceptions in the quality outcome framework returns. 
  • Improve the storage of prescriptions.
  • Improve uptake of cervical screening for eligible women.

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