The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

The Orchard Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Orchard, Bromborough Village Road, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 7EU (0151) 334 2084

Provided and run by:
The Orchard Surgery

All Inspections

29 January 2024

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Following our previous inspection on 22 January 2019 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 The Orchard Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We carried out an announced assessment focused on the responsive key question of The Orchard Surgery on 29 January 2024 without a site visit. The rating for the responsive key question is Good. As the other domains were not reviewed during this assessment, the rating 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 – good

Well-led - not inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection

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 assessment

This assessment was carried out remotely.

This included:

• Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.

• Requesting evidence from the provider.

• Reviewing patient feedback from a range of sources

• Reviewing data we hold about the service

• Seeking information/feedback from relevant stakeholders

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 had a proactive approach to identifying the needs of patients and responding to them.
  • The practice worked with their patients and Patient Participation Group to identify where they might improve.
  • Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way and the provider had implemented systems and processes as a result of patient feedback.
  • National GP patient survey results relating to access were above local and national averages.
  • Complaints were satisfactorily handled in a timely manner.

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

  • Continue to identify ways of improving the appointment system and access to the service by phone.

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

22 January 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Orchard Surgery – BG Lannigan on 22 January 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.
  • There was equipment and medicines for use in emergencies and these were checked, however we found one item of medical equipment in a doctor’s bag had been missed from the previous year’s annual calibration.
  • Blank prescriptions were logged in and out for use at the practice, however they were left in printers overnight and in unused rooms.
  • Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs. We saw that clinicians treated and cared for patients in line with current best practice guidelines and legislation.
  • Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
  • 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. There was evidence of clinical and internal audits being undertaken which demonstrated outcome improvements, however there was no formal audit programme based on national, local and service priorities.

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

  • Review the system for checking all medical equipment is serviced and calibrated as required.
  • Review the storage of printer prescription pads in the practice to ensure they are secure at all times.
  • Implement an audit programme that is based on national, local and practice priorities.

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

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

8 October 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Orchard Surgery – BG Lannigan on 8 October 2015. 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 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.
  • Patient survey information showed that it could be a challenge to make an appointment with a named GP, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The practice was clean and tidy.
  • The practice used a pharmacy advisor to ensure the practice was prescribing in line with current guidelines.
  • The practice sought patient views about improvements that could be made to the service, including having a patient participation group (PPG) and acted on feedback.
  • Staff worked well together as a team and all felt supported to carry out their roles.
  • 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 areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • The development of a centralised system to disseminate safety alerts and best practice guidance to all appropriate staff.
  • To review policies and procedures at regular intervals.
  • The development of an appraisal process for all staff.
  • Ensure that the fire risk assessment is reviewed and updated.
  • To support administration and reception staff to receive appropriate training to support them in their roles.
  • Ensure that all clinicians are able to access safeguarding information from the computer system.
  • Ensure the practice meetings standing agenda includes safeguarding.
  • Ensure all staff receive Mental Capacity Act training.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice