Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Kings Road Medical Centre on 20 September 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the September 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Kings Road Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 31 August 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 20 September 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had made improvements in respect of the arrangements in place to manage fire safety.

• Patients’ medical records were stored securely and confidentially.

• Plans were in place to upgrade the branch practice.

• Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework showed patient outcomes had improved since our previous inspection.

• Childhood immunisation rates had improved since our previous inspection.

• The practice had drawn up an action plan to improve patient satisfaction with access.

The areas of practice where the provider needs to make further improvements are:

The provider should:

• Continue to improve childhood immunisation rates to bring them in line with local and national averages.

• Continue to monitor and act on feedback from patients.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Following a comprehensive inspection of Kings Road Medical Centre on 17 December 2015 the practice was given an overall inadequate rating. The practice was placed in special measures and was found to be in breach of four regulations. Shortfalls identified included a lack of effective safety systems, ineffective complaints handling and inadequate governance arrangements.

We then carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 September 2016 to consider if all regulatory breaches in the previous inspections had been addressed and to consider whether sufficient improvements had been made to bring the practice out of special measures. At this inspection we found improvements had been made. Overall the practice is rated as Requires Improvement.

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. However, some risks we identified at the branch surgery required action which included fire safety risks and the secure storage of patient records.

• 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 could make an appointment with a named GP in a reasonable time and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.

• The main surgery had adequate facilities and was equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. However, the branch surgery was in urgent need of an upgrade. The premises were basic, in need of redecoration and furnishings required updating. The toilet facilities were not accessible for wheelchair users and there were no baby changing or breast feeding facilities. We were told by the partners that plans were in place to upgrade the branch practice.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff told us they 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 must make improvement are:

• Ensure safe and proper storage of patient’s records to maintain information governance processes.

In addition the provider should:

• Ensure the actions identified from the recent fire risk assessment carried out for the branch surgery are implemented and fire extinguisher servicing is brought up to date.

• Implement the plan to upgrade the branch surgery.

• Continue to monitor Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) exception reporting particularly in relation to diabetes indicators and bring in line with local and national averages.

• Improve childhood immunisation uptake to bring in line with national averages.

• Improve telephone access to both the main and branch surgeries.

I am taking this service out of special measures. This recognises the significant improvements made to the quality of care provided by this service.

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 Kings Road Medical Centre on 20 September 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the September 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Kings Road Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 31 August 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 20 September 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had made improvements in respect of the arrangements in place to manage fire safety.

• Patients’ medical records were stored securely and confidentially.

• Plans were in place to upgrade the branch practice.

• Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework showed patient outcomes had improved since our previous inspection.

• Childhood immunisation rates had improved since our previous inspection.

• The practice had drawn up an action plan to improve patient satisfaction with access.

The areas of practice where the provider needs to make further improvements are:

The provider should:

• Continue to improve childhood immunisation rates to bring them in line with local and national averages.

• Continue to monitor and act on feedback from patients.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice