Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs Yap, Hughes and Michael’s practice on 6 May 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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 managed, although actions taken in relation to risks were not always well documented.
• 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.

• 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 were able to make an appointment with a named GP and urgent appointments were 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 the senior partners. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

• Ensure robust records are maintained in relation to the governance of the practice including risks, audit actions and staff meetings to ensure actions required are not missed.
• Ensure legionella risk assessments have been completed for the premises and actions identified implemented.
• Ensure doctor’s bags are routinely checked to ensure items contained within them are within their expiry date and fit for use.
• Ensure systems are in place for ensuring findings from audits are discussed and where appropriate implemented.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice