We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Brierley Park Medical Centre on 13 July 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing well-led, safe, effective, caring and responsive services. The practice was also good for providing services for older people, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

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

• Staff knew how to report significant events and we found that action had been taken in response to safety alerts. Actions were taken following investigations into significant events and these were assessed to consider the impact they had on patients and staff.
• The practice worked with other agencies to help ensure the care and support provided to vulnerable children and adults was coordinated and effective.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.
• Clinicians introduced the use of Care Bundles to use in association with their QOF data. A Care Bundle is a set of evidenced based interventions that, when used together with QOF data significantly improves patient outcomes.
• Clinical staff were aware of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and their duties in fulfilling it. all members of the clinical team and non-clinical team worked with families and people with dementia to ensure that they received individualised care dementia friends.
• 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. Complaints were dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted upon.
• The practice openly engaged with the local community where they regularly had a stall at the local community fund day designed to promote a healthy lifestyle.

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

The provider should:

• Ensure that practice policies are more comprehensive.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice