This practice is rated as Good overall and as Requires Improvement for providing safe services.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Albion Mount Medical Practice on 6 June 2018. This inspection was carried out as Albion Mount Medical Practice is a newly registered provider with the Care Quality Commission.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had systems for dealing with safety incidents and near misses. When incidents occurred, the practice learned lessons and made changes to improve processes and reduce risks.
• There were clear policies and protocols which were accessible to all staff.
• The practice undertook quality improvement activity to review and improve the effectiveness of care provided. Care and treatment was delivered in line with current evidence based guidance.
• The practice had made changes to their appointment systems in response to patient feedback. A duty doctor was available each day to cover both sites and deal with urgent or unexpected patient needs.
• We observed patients receiving kind and compassionate treatment by staff.
• The leadership team was cohesive with shared goals and vision for the practice. Staff told us they felt supported by GP partners and management.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review and risk assess arrangements for emergency medicines held at the branch site of the practice.
• Review and improve their approach in relation to Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks for non-clinical staff undertaking chaperone duties.
• Review and improve staff security at the main site of the practice.
• Review staff immunisation status in line with Department of Health recommendation.
• Review and take steps to improve their Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) exception reporting rates to ensure, as far as possible, that patients are receiving effective care.
• Continue to review and enhance their systems to identify and support those patients acting in an unpaid caring capacity.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice