Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at KH Medical on 17 December 2015. 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 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.
• There was no appointment system, all patients wanting to see a GP were seen on the same day. Patients said they found it easy to see the GP and that there was continuity of care.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. The practice has a purpose built theatre for procedures such as carpal tunnel surgery. This is available to the practice population and is open to other practices in the local area through the choose and book system.
• 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 registered provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw two areas of outstanding practice:

• There was an open appointment system. Each of the three surgeries offered GP appointments at different times during the day and patients sat and waited to be seen. Patients told us that they did not wait too long and patient surveys carried out by the practice showed that patients were satisfied with this system and didn’t want to change it. Every patient wanting an appointment was seen on the day of request. Patients told us that access to see the GP was easy.

• Procedures usually referred to secondary care, such as vasectomy surgery and carpal tunnel surgery were carried out in the practice. The practice had a purpose built operating theatre. Practice data showed that waiting lists did not exceed 10 days.

• All repeat prescription requests were completed the same day; there was no 48 hour rule, the prescriptions were ready within 24 hours. This made ordering prescriptions easier. Patients told us they found this helpful.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice