Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Brown and partners on 21 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 were 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.
• Feedback from patients about their care was consistently and strongly positive.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it difficult to get through to the practice by telephone first thing in the morning. Once their call was answered they told us it was easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. 
• 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The patient participation group, along with practice staff, had facilitated two information events for patients and people from the surrounding areas about diabetes and dementia. Patients told us this was very informative and they were looking forward to future events scheduled.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about Dr Brown & Partners on 14 June 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.