Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bewicke Medical Centre on 9 December 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• 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.
• Some patients said they found it hard to make an appointment with a named GP. Urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• Staff throughout the practice worked well as a team.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Complete the work already initiated to ensure training needs are identified and relevant training is undertaken within the required timescales.

• Review arrangements for the distribution of blank prescription forms to take into account national guidance.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice