Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Linden Road Surgery on 15 March 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 assessed and well managed.
• 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.
• Staff worked closely with other community services and external care agencies.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. This was reflected in the national patient survey and from reports from patients.
• Annual health checks were offered to anyone registered as a carer.
• 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 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 area where the provider should make improvement is to ensure that there is a proactive approach to identifying and supporting carers.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice