Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Forest House Surgery on 28 September 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.
• 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.
• Urgent appointments were made available for vulnerable patients and unwell children even where sessions were fully booked.
• The practice had adequate facilities and equipment.
• 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 practice had over 200 patients living in local care homes and provided weekly ward rounds to four homes and ad hoc visits to others. Each home was visited by one of two GPs to establish continuity with the staff, patients and their families. Care plans were regularly reviewed and end of life wishes included. We received very positive feedback from a care home manager who came to the practice to meet with us on the day of inspection.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice