Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Lower Ince Surgery on 31 July 2017. 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• 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.
• Results from the most recent national GP patient survey showed patients were mostly satisfied with the surgery and felt involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with said they were able to make an appointment with a named GP if required 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 upon. Staff were able to work flexibly and across different SSP locations.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.
• The practice had a proactive patient participation group (PPG).

We saw an area of outstanding practice :

The practice had a successful Hypnotic Reduction Programme of patients on Benzodiazepine Medicines. (Benzodiazepines are a group of medicines sometimes used in patients with anxiety, sleeping problems and other mental health disorders).  Before SSP Health were awarded the contract, Lower Ince Surgery was the highest prescriber of this medicine in the country. The improvement had been achieved through an in-house reduction programme devised by the provider in agreement with patients who fitted the criteria.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice