Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Brant Road Surgery on 14 April 2016. 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 however non-clinical and near misses were not included in the reporting process.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Procedures were in place for monitoring and managing risks to patient and staff safety.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• Staff had been trained to provide them with 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and that the new appointment system was assisting with this.
• 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
• The practice understood the needs of the local population and planned services to meet those needs.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Review the process of reporting significant events to include non-clinical incidents and near misses.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice