Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Knotty Ash Medical Centre on 8 May 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• Knotty Ash Medical is situated in converted residential buildings. There were disabled access and translation facilities.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Information from Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards reviewed indicated that patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available.
• Urgent appointments were available the same day.
• 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 the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Carry out a risk assessment as to how the practice would manage a medical emergency without a defibrillator.
• Have appropriate children’s oxygen masks for use in a medical emergency.
• Review significant events and incidents periodically to identify any trends.
• Have a written protocol for managing uncollected prescriptions.
• Have a Legionella risk assessment carried out by a suitably qualified assessor.
• Arrange for all staff to receive training about the Mental Capacity Act.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice