Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Kothari, Dr Nanda, Dr Brezina, Dr Hart and Dr Metcalfe, also known as The Puzey Family Practice on 5 May 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. All staff understood this system and significant events were routinely discussed with all staff to ensure improvements were made.
• Risks to patients were continually assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. There was a robust system in place to ensure new guidance was received and implemented by all staff.
• The practice worked with external organisations to provide a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. We received positive feedback from these organisations.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available in several formats and was easy to understand. The practice proactively reviewed complaints at staff meetings and improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments and walk in appointments available the same day.

• Extended hours provided a range of appointments times for all patients. Home visits were routinely provided to ensure care for more vulnerable patients.

• Health checks, vaccinations and joint injections were all offered as home visits when patients were unable to attend the practice.

• A free acupuncture service was offered to patients when suitable in an attempt to reduce the use of analgesics.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• The practice was a training practice for medical students, doctors and nurses and staff were passionate about continuous professional development.
• The practice had strong, visible clinical and managerial leadership and governance arrangements. There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported.
• The practice proactively sought feedback from staff, the patient participation group and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

An area where the provider should make improvement is:

Continue to identify carers and offer these patients additional support.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice