Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr DM Doherty and Partners on 19 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care for all of the population groups it serves.

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

• Staff had a comprehensive understanding of the needs of their practice population and were flexible in their service delivery to meet patient demands.

• There was evidence of an all-inclusive team approach to providing services and care for patients.

• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• The practice promoted a culture of openness and honesty. There was a nominated lead for dealing with significant events.

• All staff were encouraged and supported to record any incidents using the electronic reporting system. There was evidence of good investigation, learning and sharing mechanisms in place.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following local and national care pathways and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

• There was a safeguarding lead in place and robust systems to protect patients and staff from abuse.

• The practice sought patient views about how improvements could be made to the service, through the use of patient surveys, the NHS Friends and Family Test and engagement with patients and their local community.

• There was a clear leadership structure, staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities and told us the GPs were accessible and supportive.

• The practice complied with the requirements of the duty of candour. (The duty of candour is a set of specific legal requirements that providers of services must follow when things go wrong with care and treatment).

We saw two areas of outstanding practice

• The practice had piloted and introduced a GP-led allergy testing clinic in response to long waiting lists at the hospital. Nursing staff were trained up to support the GP.

• A military veteran’s project had been introduced to identify patients who required support and signpost them to additional services.

• The practice is piloting a GP led ear, nose and throat (ENT) service in response to long hospital waiting lists. It has been running for twelve months and is available to all local practices to use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice