The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Spring Hall Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

173c, Spring Hall Lane, Halifax, HX1 4JG (01422) 349501

Provided and run by:
Spring Hall Group Practice Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

30 January 2024

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook an announced targeted assessment of the responsive key question at Spring Hall Medical Practice on 30 January 2024.

We have rated the responsive key question as requires improvement as feedback from several sources indicates that people who use the service are not always able to access care and treatment in a timely way. Although we saw that the provider was addressing the access challenges through various measures, and some improvements have been noted, this has not yet been fully reflected in the National GP Patient Survey, NHS patient feedback platforms and some feedback gathered during the assessment process. Therefore, the rating of requires improvement has been given as ratings depend on evidence of impact and must reflect the lived experience that people were reporting at the time of assessment.

As the other domains were not reviewed during this assessment, the rating of good will be carried forward from the previous inspection in June 2022 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 Spring Hall Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out this assessment as part of our work to understand how practices are working to try to meet demand 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 colleagues are doing this while demand for general practice remains exceptionally high, with more appointments being provided than ever. 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. These assessments of the responsive key question include looking at what practices are doing innovatively to improve patient access to primary care and sharing this information to drive improvement.

How we carried out the inspection

This assessment was carried out remotely. It did not include a site visit. The process included:

  • Conducting an interview with the provider using video conferencing.
  • Reviewing patient feedback from a range of sources
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • Reviewing data we hold about the service
  • Seeking information/feedback from relevant stakeholders

Our findings

We based our judgement of the responsive key question on a combination of:

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

We found that:

  • The provider organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs.
  • Patient feedback indicated that they were not always able to access care and treatment in a timely way. The provider was aware of this and addressing the challenges to access.
  • Complaints were listened to, managed appropriately and used to improve the quality of care.

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

  • Continue to monitor and take steps to improve telephone and appointment access.

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, 21 June 2022

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Spring Hall Group Practice on 20 and 21 June 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as Good.

Safe - Good

Effective - Good

Caring - Good

Responsive - Good

Well-led - Good

Following our previous inspection on 21 June 2018, 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 Spring Hall Group Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection:

This inspection was a comprehensive inspection as part of our continuing regulatory function.

How we carried out the inspection/review

Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently.

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing
  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system and discussing findings with the provider
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider
  • Requesting evidence from the provider
  • A shorter site visit
  • Question sheets sent to staff for completion prior to the inspection

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 have rated this practice as Good overall

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 were supported to maintain appropriate learning and updating to enhance their skills.
  • Staff treated patients with kindness and respect, and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • The practice had adjusted how it delivered services to meet the needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients could access care and treatment through a variety of routes and at a choice of preferred venue.
  • Staff told us they were happy and proud to work at the practice.
  • The leadership team demonstrated an open and transparent leadership style.

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

  • Continue to apply recently introduced processes and protocols to ensure safe care and treatment for patients.
  • Take steps to optimise uptake of cervical screening and childhood immunisations.
  • Develop processes to facilitate better identification of unpaid carers across all age groups.

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