Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Garba Sani Gusau’s practice on 27 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 generally assessed and well managed, although the practice had not ensured the appropriate recording and storage of a controlled drug. However, this had been immediately removed and appropriately disposed of.

• 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 and patients had easy access to a number of support services within the building.
• 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 areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure the system for recording MHRA alerts is revisited to ensure actions and learning have taken place and that all significant events are captured to promote learning.
• The practice should ensure they keep a separate controlled drugs register and appropriate recording and storage in line with legislation if they decide to keep controlled drugs in the future.
• Carry out appraisal for all staff as planned and review the system to ensure appraisal continues regularly.
• Explore ways of increasing the identification of carers, to enable them to receive appropriate support.
• Consider ways of encouraging uptake of breast and bowel screening.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about Hillfields Health Centre - 1 on 13 June 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.