The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said waste management failures at Catterick Village Surgery following an assessment carried out between March 17 and March 24 this year.
While inspectors highlighted a number of positive findings across the practice, including good patient care and staff training, concerns over infection prevention and control contributed to a “requires improvement” rating for safety.
Inspectors found the practice “did not appropriately assess or manage the risk of infection”.
In its report, the watchdog said: “We found waste (including clinical waste) at the Catterick Village site was not stored securely and was in an area which could be accessed by patients or visitors.”
Catterick Village GP surgery has been rated ‘requires improvement’ by the CQC (Image: GOOGLE)
The findings formed part of a wider infection prevention and control review which scored the practice one point out of four.
The report found the surgery, which serves more than 6,000 patients and also operates a branch site in Colburn, did not have sufficient oversight of cleaning arrangements at its main Catterick Village premises.
According to the report, the building is leased from a third party which is responsible for cleaning. However, the CQC found practice leaders “did not have access to appropriate records to evidence regular, safe and effective cleaning of this service location”.
The report added: “There was no evidence of the provider carrying out audits or regular checks to ensure the cleanliness of the premises.”
Further concerns were identified at the surgery’s Colburn branch, where carpets remained in some consultation rooms.
Inspectors said the provider “had not completed a risk assessment” and there was “no policy relating to the cleaning of these carpets and what action must be taken in the event of them being contaminated with a spillage (such as bodily fluids) between any cleaning cycles”.
The CQC also questioned the effectiveness of the practice’s own infection control checks.
A recent infection prevention and control audit had failed to identify issues uncovered by inspectors, including “the unsafe storage of clinical waste”.
Despite the shortcomings, the CQC said staff had completed infection prevention and control training relevant to their roles and that the practice had appointed a designated infection prevention and control lead.
Inspectors noted the lead had recently undertaken additional specialist training and that the practice intended to carry out regular infection prevention and control audits in future.
The report also highlighted a number of strengths at the surgery. The CQC said managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals, while the practice had “a good learning culture”.
Patient feedback was largely positive. One patient told inspectors: “Every time I’ve spoken to the reception team, they’ve been an absolute pleasure. They’re always so friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful.”
Another said the care they had received had been “outstanding” and described the team as “second to none”.
The CQC rated the surgery good for effectiveness, caring and responsiveness, but requires improvement for safety and leadership.
Inspectors found a breach of regulations relating to good governance and said they had requested an action plan from the practice in response to the concerns identified.
The Northern Echo contacted Catterick Village Surgery for a comment did not receive a response in time for publication.