Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr R Salmon & Partners on 6 April 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for older people, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired), people whose circumstances make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people

with dementia).

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.

• Practice staff were kind and caring and treated patients with dignity and respect.

• The practice was safe for both patients and staff. Robust procedures helped to identify risks and where improvements could be made

• The clinical staff at the practice provided effective consultations, care and treatment in line with recommended guidance.

• Services provided met the needs of all population groups.

• The practice had strong visible leadership and staff were involved in the vision of providing high quality healthcare.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned for.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• 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.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice