Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Colsterworth Medical Practice on 14 March 2018 as part of our inspection program.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.

• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.

• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

• Feedback from patients was positive in terms of the care and treatment they received although some expressed concerns about the time it took to get an appointment with a GP.

• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Complete actions outstanding from the recent infection control audit.

• Review arrangements within the dispensary to minimise the risk of dispensing errors.

• Adhere to the  providers own polices with regard to the frequency of medicines stock control .

• Continue to monitor rates of patient satisfaction and seek ways to improve.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice