Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the practice of Dr Sally Johnston on 3 March 2017. Overall the practice is now rated as good.

The practice had been previously inspected on 20 April 2016. Following that inspection the practice was rated as requires improvement overall, with the following domain ratings:

Safe – inadequate

Effective – Good

Caring – Good

Responsive – Good

Well led – Requires improvement

The practice provided us with an action plan detailing how they were going to make the required improvements.

The inspection on 3 March 2017 was to confirm the required actions had been completed and award a new rating if appropriate.

Following this re-inspection on 3 March 2017, 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.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including those relating to recruitment checks.

• 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.

• Data showed patient outcomes were at or above those locally and nationally.
• Feedback from patients about their care was strongly positive.

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

• The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a result of feedback from patients.

• 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 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.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the practice of Dr Sally Johnston on 3 March 2017. Overall the practice is now rated as good.

The practice had been previously inspected on 20 April 2016. Following that inspection the practice was rated as requires improvement overall, with the following domain ratings:

Safe – inadequate

Effective – Good

Caring – Good

Responsive – Good

Well led – Requires improvement

The practice provided us with an action plan detailing how they were going to make the required improvements.

The inspection on 3 March 2017 was to confirm the required actions had been completed and award a new rating if appropriate.

Following this re-inspection on 3 March 2017, 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.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including those relating to recruitment checks.

• 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.

• Data showed patient outcomes were at or above those locally and nationally.
• Feedback from patients about their care was strongly positive.

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

• The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a result of feedback from patients.

• 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 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.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with five patients on the day of our visit. They spoke positively about the practice and commented that they were happy with the care they received. Patients told us: "I see both GP’s, they always check how you are when I visit, and I get a reminder about annual MOT checks with the nurse when I collect my prescription.” “You can ask the Doctor anything, you never feel stupid."

The practice operated by appointment only. All the staff and patients we spoke with told us, appointments could usually be made on the day and it was rare patients waited more than 24 hours for an appointment.

We saw the practice leaflet which contained useful information for patients about the practice, including details of the services available and how to access GP services both in and out of hours.

The practice had electronic records in place to accurately record the contact patients had with the service. We looked at six electronic records; these included personal details, allergies, past medical history, choice of treatments available, test results and referral letters as well as contact with other professionals.

All areas of the practise were clean, tidy and well maintained. The five people we spoke to were all happy with the cleanliness of the practice.

During our visit we found the practice had systems to assess and monitor quality. The practice had a range of policies and procedures in place for staff to access, which supported the safe running of the service.