Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Charnwood Surgery on 26 May 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• The practice demonstrated an open and transparent approach to safety. There were systems in place to enable staff to report and record significant events. Learning from significant events was shared with relevant staff.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. There were arrangements in place to review risks on an ongoing basis to ensure patients and staff were kept safe. However, the practice needed to ensure arrangements were in place to undertake regular fire drills.
• Staff delivered care and treatment in line with evidence based guidance and local guidelines. Training had been provided for staff to ensure they had the skills and knowledge required to deliver effective care and treatment for patients.
• Regular clinical audits were undertaken within the practice to drive improvement.
• Feedback from patients was that they were treated with kindness, dignity and respect and were involved in decisions about their care.
• 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 generally found it easy to make an urgent appointment but that they sometimes had to wait to see a named GP.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. Adjustments had been made to the premises to ensure these were suitable for patients with a disability.
• There was a clear leadership structure which all staff were aware of. Staff told us they felt supported by the partners and 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.

There were some areas where the provider should make improvements:

• Ensure that there are robust systems in place to record action taken in response to medicines and patient safety alerts received.
• Ensure arrangements are in place to undertake regular fire drills within the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice