IMPROVEMENTS are needed at Eldene Surgery after the Care Quality Commission slammed some of its practices.

A report was released on Thursday following an inspection at the surgery, in Colingsmead, in October.

The commission has four options to select when rating healthcare services, outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.

Its role is to act as an independent regulator of all health and social care services in England.

Eldene Surgery supports 7,800 patients, some from as far afield as Fairford.

And, despite rating some aspects of the surgery as good, the authority found that improvements needed to be made.

The key areas that need to be developed were the centre’s levels of safety and leadership.

“The practice did not check the professional registration status of staff,” said professor Steve Field, in his CQC report.

“Although the practice was found to be visibly clean, the practice had not completed annual infection control audits in line with national guidance.

“We found the practice did not follow national guidance with regards to the management of GP prescription pads and patient group directions.

There was no formal system to review patient safety alerts.

“Health and safety risk assessments of the environment, such as the control of substances hazardous to health were not undertaken.

“The practice had not identified the risks associated with the storage and use of liquid nitrogen.”

The report added: “There was a leadership structure and overall staff felt supported by management.

“However, evidence gathered through staff interviews, record and policy reviews indicated management did not always lead through learning and development.

“For example, audit cycles were not completed, access to staff policies and procedures were not well communicated.

“Policies and procedures were not up to date and the appraisal process did not provide opportunities for staff development.”

The commission praised the surgery’s level of care, service quality and patient response.

Prof Field said: “Data showed patients rated the practice higher than others for several aspects of care.

“Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in care and treatment decisions.

“Accessible information was provided to help patients understand the care available to them.

“We saw that staff communicated with patients with kindness and respect and ensured confidentiality was maintained.”

The commission has issued the surgery with compliance actions which it will be regulating.

In summarising its assessment of the surgery the CQC found that the centre was able to provide patients with appointments when necessary.

They also found staff explained decisions and diagnosis to patients and that they met national quality standards.

As part of the survey the opinions of six patients were tallied and 23 patient comment cards were read to see what the public thought of the surgery.

The surgery was not available to comment before the Adver went to press.

To see the full report visit www.cqc.org.uk

The CQC ensures  hospitals, care homes, dental and general practices and other care services in the country provide people with safe, effective and high-quality care.