Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Rajinder Sood on 30 March 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 there were systems in place for reporting and recording serious significant events. However, minor events were not reported and recorded.
• Not all staff who acted as chaperones had received a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS check). The practice manager gave assurance that this would be undertaken.
• 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 about their care and treatment was consistently and strongly positive. We received 42 comment cards which were all very positive about the standard of care received. Many patients commented that they found it easy to access services and that staff were courteous, helpful and accommodating. Many commented that the premises were always comfortable and clean.
• 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 and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.
• The practice sought patient views how improvements could be made to the service, through the use of patient surveys, the NHS Friends and Family Test and the patient participation group; particularly in relation to improving access.
• Risks to patients who used services were assessed. However we found during the inspection that access to emergency medicines and oxygen needed to be reviewed. Following on from the inspection day the practice provided evidence that these issues had been addressed.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Report, record review and investigate all incidents affecting the health, safety and welfare of people using services.
• Ensure all clinical staff have the knowledge to carry out assessments of capacity to consent when providing care and treatment for children 16 years or younger, in line with relevant guidance.
• Ensure that written consent is obtained for minor surgery procedures.
• Review processes for following up children who fail to attend hospital appointments.
• Ensure that changes to patient care plans are routinely recorded on the Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems (EPaCCS)

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice