Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 28 July 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 were generally assessed and well managed.
• 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.
• 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.
• There were areas of outstanding practice observed at the practice:
• The practice sent a Christmas card with information for older people on how to stay well and how to access services over the seasonal period.
• The practice produced and distributed a student health survival guide and student mental health guide.
• There was a “one stop shop” to reduce the number of times patients had to attend for review.

There were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:

• Ensure the recruitment of all staff, including locum staff, includes all the necessary pre-employment checks and records are kept of these.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice