This practice is rated as Good overall.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – RI

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Firstcare Practice on 13 November 2018 as part of our inspection programme due to this practice changing their registration details and thus being treated as newly registered with the CQC.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• Childhood immunisations and cancer screening results were lower than local and national averages, however unverified 2018 data provided by the practice indicated improvements had been made, particularly in childhood immunisations.
• Results from the GP patient survey in questions relating to the caring key question were below local and national averages, particularly regarding patient’s overall experience and being involved in their care and treatment. The practice had conducted their own survey, which showed some improvement since the last time it was conducted, but mirrored the national GP patient survey. The practice continued to take steps to address this.
• The practice’s achievement on the GP patient survey in questions relating to access to care and treatment were below local and national averages, particularly regarding telephone access, making appointments and seeing the GP of choice. The practice had conducted their own survey, which showed some improvement since the last time it was conducted, but mirrored the national GP patient survey. The practice continued to take steps to address this.
• The practice had a strong focus on quality improvement and learning when things went wrong.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Continue with efforts to improvement cancer screening rates.
• Monitor and improve levels of patient satisfaction, in particular, areas in relation to access and involvement in care and treatment.
  

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.