We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at this practice on the 10th February 2015 and at this time the practice was rated as good.

However, breaches of a legal requirement were also found. After the comprehensive inspection the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the following legal requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act (HSCA) 2008:

Regulation 21 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010, which corresponds to Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

On the 31st May 2016 we carried out a focused review of this service under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This review was carried out to check whether the provider had completed the improvements identified during the comprehensive inspection carried out in February 2015.

This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and areas considered for improvement. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Heath Prescot Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

The findings of this review were as follows:

• The practice had addressed the issues identified during the previous inspection.

• Appropriate recruitment checks had been carried out for staff and the practice had updated their recruitment policy to include all required checks for newly employed staff. The practice had undertaken checks for staff members.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is the report of findings from our inspection of Dr. Heath, Prescot Medical Centre. The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide primary care services.

We undertook a planned, comprehensive inspection on 10 February 2015 at the practice location in Prescot, Merseyside. We spoke with patients, relatives, staff and the practice management team.

The practice was rated overall as good. They provided effective, responsive care that was well led and addressed the needs of the population it served. The service was safe, caring and compassionate.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Systems were in place to ensure incidents and significant events were identified, investigated and reported. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. Lessons learnt were disseminated to staff. Infection risks and medicines were managed safely. However, improvements were needed to ensure staff were safely recruited and required information in respect of staff was held.

• People’s needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current legislation and guidance. Patients experienced outcomes that were in line with or above the national average. The practice used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes. For example comprehensive care plans for vulnerable and older patients to reduce unplanned admissions and development of care plans and pathways for other population groups.

• Patients spoke highly of the practice. They said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Information was provided to help patients understand the care available to them.

• The practice provided good care to its population that was responsive to their health and socio economic needs. Patients were listened to and feedback was acted upon. Complaints were managed appropriately.

• The practice monitored, evaluated and improved services. Staff enjoyed working for the practice and felt well supported and valued. 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 practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly, the provider must:

• Take action to ensure its recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required information in respect of workers is held.

..

In addition the provider should:

• Implement a system for identifying and managing local risks associated with the practice. For example general environmental and health and safety risk assessments.
• Ensure the recruitment policy was in line with current guidance and regulations and contains sufficient information to ensure a suitable process was in place for safe recruitment and induction of staff. Ensure that newly recruited staff are fully inducted and the induction is documented.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice