THE clinical commissioning group behind a Barrow doctor’s surgery has vowed to make improvements following an inspection.

Risedale Surgery, at the Alfred Barrow Health Centre in Duke Street, was told it ‘requires improvement’ following an inspection by Care Quality Commission (CQC) on April 21.

In an inspection report published online, the surgery was given an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’ following the visit.

The surgery was rated ‘good’ in whether services are caring and responsive to people’s needs, but told that it ‘requires improvement’ for whether services are safe, effective and well-led.

Risedale, which provides service to 6,500 patients, was last inspected under its previous provider on June 7, 2016 where it was awarded a score of ‘good’ for all key areas.

A new provider was registered for the surgery in January 2020, prompting a new inspection from the CQC.

READ MORE: Risedale Surgery in Barrow told it 'requires improvement' following inspection

Inspectors found that two regulations were breached by the surgery. The provider must ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients, and establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care, said the report.

Hilary Fordham, chief operating officer at NHS Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said it will work with the practice to support them to make the improvements stated in the report.

She said: “We have seen the CQC’s report in relation to Risedale Surgery and acknowledge the findings.

“We are committed to ensuring services in Morecambe Bay are of the highest standard. As such we will work with the partners and management team at the practice to support them to make the improvements stated in the report.

“It was pleasing to note comments from the inspection team praising the hard work of staff to maintain a kindly and dignified environment for patients.”

Inspectors recommended that the provider should implement a strategy to increase uptake of cervical and breast cancer screening uptake to expected targets, evaluate staff awareness around appointments to ensure that patients are seen by the most appropriate professional at the right time, complete required documentation for sharps boxes when commenced, review psychotropic prescribing to ensure patients are taking this medicine appropriately, re-establish a patient participation group and demonstrate that information enabling patients to make complaints is prominently displayed.

Full details of CQC’s findings are in the report which has been published here.