Dronfield Medical Practice

Updated 31 October 2019

Dronfield Medical Practice is registered with the CQC as a partnership consisting of three GPs (two males and one female). It is registered to carry out the following regulated activities - diagnostic and screening procedures, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures, family planning, and the treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

The practice has a contract with NHS Derby and Derbyshire CCG to provide Personal Medical Services (PMS) and offers a range of local enhanced services.

Dronfield Medical Practice received a previous CQC inspection on 30 October 2018. At that inspection, it received an overall good rating. The full comprehensive report for this inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dronfield Medical Practice on our website at

The practice is situated in Dronfield, a town in North-East Derbyshire between the town of Chesterfield and the city of Sheffield. The surgery moved into purpose-built premises in 2008 and is co-located with a number of community-based health services within a two-storey building.

The practice has slightly over 10,200 registered patients. The age profile of registered patients shows a higher percentage of patients aged 65 and over at 24.2%, compared to the CCG average of 20.5%, and the national average of 17.1%. Patients are predominantly of white British origin, with only 1.7% of people within the practice area being from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. The practice serves a population that is ranked in the least deprived decile for deprivation, and has lower levels of unemployment compared to averages.

Average life expectancy is 82 years for men and 85 years for women, compared to the national average of 79 and 83 years respectively.

There are 25 staff based at Dronfield Medical Practice. In addition to the three GP partners, there are five salaried GPs (four females and one male) working at the practice.

The nursing team consists of a nurse practitioner, two practice nurses, a healthcare assistant and a phlebotomist.

The clinical team are supported by a practice manager and a team of 11 staff who provide reception, administrative and secretarial support.

Dronfield Medical Practice is an established training practice. It accommodates GP registrars and medical students, as well as supporting placements for student nurses and pharmacy trainees.

The practice opens from 8am until 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Patients can also obtain late weekday appointments until 8pm, and weekend appointments through a local extended access scheme.

The surgery closes for one afternoon each month for staff training. When the practice is closed, patients are directed to Derbyshire Health United (DHU) out of hours via the 111-service.

Updated 31 October 2019

Dronfield Medical Practice received a comprehensive inspection in October 2018 as part of the Care Quality Commission’s inspection programme. The overall rating for the practice was ‘good’, however, the practice was rated as ‘requires improvement’ for providing safe services. The practice was asked to develop an action plan to address the areas of concern that were identified during our inspection.

The full comprehensive report from the inspection in October 2018 can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dronfield Medical Centre on our website at

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 18 October 2019 to review the actions taken by the practice since our previous inspection. This report covers our findings in relation to actions taken by the practice since our last inspection in respect of the safe domain.

Overall the practice remains rated as ‘good’. The practice is now also rated ‘good’ for providing safe services.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
• At our previous inspection in October 2018, there was insufficient evidence that vaccines were being stored within the recommended temperature ranges to ensure their viability. In addition, there was no evidence that oxygen cylinder checks were regularly undertaken to ensure they contained a sufficient quantity of oxygen, or that the cylinder worked effectively.
• At the inspection in October 2019, we saw that the practice had undertaken effective action and operated a safe and reliable procedure to monitor vaccine refrigerator temperatures, and this was supported by documentation.
• Staff knew what action to take if temperature recordings were noted to be outside of recommended ranges. Staff with a responsibility to monitor the temperatures were trained appropriately, and the nurse practitioner provided leadership of the process.
• Oxygen cylinders were checked weekly to ensure the flow of oxygen was working and that there was a sufficient remaining oxygen supply available within the cylinder.
• In addition, the practice had updated their complaints procedure to reflect national guidance which we had highlighted as an area in which the practice should consider making improvements.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our rating is set out in the evidence table.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care.

Updated 31 October 2019

Updated 31 October 2019

Updated 31 October 2019

Updated 31 October 2019

Updated 31 October 2019

Updated 31 October 2019