Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Ball Tree Surgery on the 6 January 2015. The practice has an overall rating of good.

Ball Tree Surgery provides primary medical services to people living in Sompting, Lancing and East Worthing. At the time of our inspection there were approximately 8,500 patients registered at the practice with a team of four GP partners. A fifth GP was in the process of registering as a partner with CQC. The practice was also supported by a salaried GP, nurses, healthcare assistants and a team of reception and administrative staff. Ball Tree Surgery is a GP training practice and at the time of the inspection was providing training and support to two registrars.

The inspection team spoke with staff and patients and reviewed policies and procedures implemented throughout the practice. The practice understood the needs of the local population and engaged effectively with other services. There was a culture of openness and transparency within the practice and staff told us they felt supported. The practice was committed to providing high quality patient care and patients told us they felt the practice was caring and responsive to their needs.

Our key findings were as follows:

• GPs had their own patient lists and where possible encouraged continuity of care by patients seeing their named GP.
• Patient feedback about the practice and the care and treatment they received was very positive.
• Infection control audits and cleaning schedules were in place and the practice was seen to be clean and tidy.
• There was evidence the practice was listening to its patients and responding to any concerns or suggestions in a timely and effective manner.
• The practice had systems to keep patients safe including safeguarding procedures and means of sharing information in relation to patients who were vulnerable.
• There were a range of appointments to suit most patients’ needs.
• Patients with palliative care needs were supported using the Gold Standards Framework.
• The practice had been a training practice for 25 years and there was a culture of continuous development.

• The practice had the appropriate equipment, medicines and procedures to manage foreseeable patient emergencies.
• Innovative use of the practice computer system allowed for information to be recorded, stored and shared in a pro-active way which was both beneficial to the practice and its patients

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice