Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at

Dr Fatin Karam known locally as Fairfield Medical Centre

on 8 June 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. 

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, apart from those relating to the premises. 

• 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 on the day of the inspection about their care was consistently and strongly positive. Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• Data showed that outcomes for patients at this practice were similar to outcomes for patients locally and nationally.

• Information about services and how to complain was available for patients.  

•  The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the patient participation group. 

• There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities. 

• The practice provided a range of enhanced services to meet the needs of the local population.

   

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Induction records should be completed for all new staff. 

• A risk assessment for the need to have oxygen and an automated defibrillator on site in an emergency should be undertaken.

  According to current external guidance and national standards this equipment should be in place in all practices. 

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with three patients on the day of our visit, including a member of the practice patient participation group (PPG). They told us they were very happy with the care they received and felt confident about how the practice ensured patient confidentiality.

The practice had electronic records in place to accurately describe the contact patients had with the service and the actions taken to provide appropriate care and treatment.

The practice had an infection control policy and guidelines which had been reviewed in January 2013. It provided staff with important information regarding infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene, managing clinical waste and environmental hygiene

We were shown around the practice and observed it provided spacious waiting, reception and consultation/treatment rooms. We observed good signage to help patients find their way around. Car parking was available nearby.

We saw the results of the 2012 patient survey and looked at feedback forms from February and March 2013. The practice had acted upon patients’ comments about waiting times for an appointment by making more ‘on the same day’ appointments available, expanding telephone consultations and having extended hours one day each week.

Records showed the results of audits were discussed at monthly practice meetings and changes were made to how the service was run and the practice’s polices and procedures.