This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating 15 June 2016– Good).

At our previous inspection we rated the service as requires improvement for providing effective care (because of a lack of clinical audit) and rated it as good overall and good for providing safe, caring, responsive and well-led services.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced inspection at Cornwall House Surgery on 7 February 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

•Action had been take since our last inspection, such that clinical audit was now being used to drive improvements in patient outcomes.

•When incidents happened, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.

•The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided.

•The practice’s GP patient survey feedback regarding phone access was lower than the national average but action had been taken action to improve performance.

•The practice did not have a protocol in place to ensure repeat prescriptions were promptly collected although when this was highlighted, prompt action was taken to introduce such a protocol.

•Although Patient Specific Directions documents were kept on file (providing the practice’s Health Care Assistant with dosage and patient assessment information) these were only being reviewed and signed by a doctor after the practice’s Health Care Assistant had administered medication. When this was highlighted, the practice immediately amended its protocol.

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

•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:

•Take action to improve cervical screening uptake.

•Monitor recently introduced actions aimed at improving telephone access.

•Further develop patient participation in how the service is delivered.

•Monitor recent actions aimed at improving how uncollected prescriptions are managed.

•Take action to ensure periodic fire drills take place.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care