Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Baldwins Lane Surgery on 14 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• Systems were in place to identify and respond to concerns about the safeguarding of adults and children.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to access appointments, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice appeared clean and infection control procedures were adhered to.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.

• The practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure they met patients’ needs.

However, there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

• Ensure that staff have an awareness of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards appropriate to their roles.

• Ensure staff are facilitated to complete role specific training and maintain up to date records of training in regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children and infection control in accordance with their practice policies.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice