Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

The practice was rated good overall and is now rated good for providing safe services.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 6 June 2016. A breach of legal requirements was found during that inspection within the safe domain. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice sent us an action plan detailing what they would do to meet the legal requirements. We conducted a focused inspection on 17 November 2016 to check that the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

During our previous inspection on 6 June 2016 we found the following area where the practice must improve:

• Ensure the safe storage of vaccines.

Our previous report also highlighted an area where the practice should improve:

• Continue to increase the numbers of patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia who receive an annual review.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

During the inspection on 17 November 2016 we found:

• The practice had an updated cold chain policy which was adhered to and ensured vaccines were stored safely.

We also found in relation to the area where the practice should improve:

• The practice had increased the numbers of patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia who received annual reviews. For example the percentage of patients with COPD who had a review undertaken including an assessment of breathlessness in the preceding 12 months during 2015/2016 was 81% compared to the clinical commissioning group (CCG) average of 87% and the national average of 89% and the percentage of patients diagnosed with dementia whose care had been reviewed in a face time to face review in the preceding 12 months was 80% compared to the CCG average of 79% and the national average of 84%.

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 Flansham Park Health Centre on 6 June 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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. The practice had made changes to the way they managed risks to vaccine storage.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The area where the provider must make improvement is:

• Ensure the safe storage of vaccines.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

• Continue to increase the numbers of patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia who receive an annual review.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice