Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Limes Medical Centre on 08 September 2016 Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• There was an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events and lessons learnt were discussed at staff meetings.

• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems, processes and practices in place to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.

• Appropriate recruitment checks were undertaken before employment for permenant staff and locum staff members.

• Risks to patients were assessed and managed. The practice provided evidence to show an updated fire risk assessment would be carried out, as well as a five year electrical installation safety check.

• Staff assessed needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.

• Clinical audits were carried out to demonstrate quality improvement and findings were used to improve services.

• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Staff worked with other health care professionals to understand and meet the range and complexity of patients’ needs.

• The practice had devised a guide of health promotion for patients with learning disabilities.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.

• We saw staff treated patients with kindness and respect, and maintained patient and information confidentiality.

• The practice identified carers and written information was available, however there was a limited number of carers identified.

• The practice had recently started to host a carers clinic which was run by Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL), which patients could self refer to.

• The practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they meet patients’ needs. For example, near patient testing for patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy, a joint clinic with a Diabetic Specialist Nurse, a musculoskeletal service provided by two extended scope physiotherapists and an urgent care clinic.

• The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the patient participation group. For example, the practice had recently changed the telephone system, which allowed the practice to review and analyse the call system identifying the periods of time with higher demand. As a result, the practice had increased reception staff cover during certain times.

• The practice had a five year business plan in place which underpinned the vision for the practice. Staff were clear about the vision and their responsibilities in relation to it.

• The practice had a meeting structure in place to ensure relevant topics were discussed at the relevant meetings.

• The PPG had worked with the practice to create five videos regarding services provided by the practice and how to use them. This included, online services, self check in and the urgent care system.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Continue to review the carers register and identify patients, as appropriate.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about Limes Medical Centre on 30 May 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.