Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Brinsworth and Whiston Medical Centres on 10 May 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good but with requires improvement for safety. The full comprehensive report for the 10 May 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Brinsworth and Whiston Medical Centres on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 14 March 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 10 May 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is rated as G

good.

Improvements had been made since our last inspection on 10 May 2016. Our key findings were as follows:

• A reliable system in place to ensure emergency equipment was in working order had been implemented. The defibrillators were in working order and all the required equipment to ensure they could be used was available.

• Storage arrangements for emergency medicines had been reviewed and improved to ensure timely access in the event of an emergency.

• Procedures for monitoring vaccine fridge temperatures had been improved to take account of the 2014 guidance from Public Health England.

• Recruitment records had been improved and included when Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) were received. Records of interview were maintained.

• Warning signs to indicate where oxygen was stored had been displayed.

• Staff had completed training in vaccinations and immunisation and infection prevention and control.

• Cleaning schedules had been implemented.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Brinsworth Medical Centre on 16 March 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.
• Risks to patients required improvement in relation to emergency equipment and medicines.
• 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.
• Patients said they found it difficult to make a non-urgent appointment with a named GP.
• The practice had well maintained facilities which met patient’s 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 areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• The provider must put a reliable system in place for access to emergency drugs and for equipment checks and replacement to ensure that equipment and drugs are always available for use in an emergency as per the Resuscitation Council (UK) guidance.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Procedures for monitoring vaccine fridge temperatures should take into account the 2014 guidance from Public Health England which states the vaccine fridge temperatures should be done it at the same time every day during the working week.
• Improve recruitment records to evidence the date Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) are received and any detail as to whether the DBS was acceptable or not. Maintain records of interviews and outcome.

• Display warning signs to indicate where oxygen is stored.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

People’s diversity, values and human rights were respected. People felt that they could speak to staff in confidence and felt valued as an individual.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare. The people we spoke with were complimentary about the treatment they received. One person said, “The staff know what they are doing here and they’re all very nice.” Another person said, “I don’t mind which doctor I see, they’re all good.”

People were cared for in a clean and hygienic environment. We saw the premises were very clean throughout.

We spoke with staff who said they were supported and able to approach doctors if they had a concern. They said it was a friendly and happy environment to work in.

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.