Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Rashid Akhtar on 29 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Incidents were being reported and learning shared with staff. There were systems in place to maintain the health and safety of patients and staff at the practice.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• The practice had effective procedures in place that ensured care and treatment was delivered in line with appropriate standards. The practice was proactive in promoting good health.
• 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 premises were acknowledged as a challenge to providing privacy in the reception area and plans were in place to overcome this.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

The areas where the provider should make improvement:

• The practice should consider how they ensure patients are aware of the extended opening hours.

• Develop a stock control system to record medicines that are kept in the surgery.

• The practice should have the equipment to meet all emergncies

• Ensure business continuity plan is robust

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice