Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused inspection of Medlock Medical Practice Dr Hossain & Dr Chauhan for one area within the key question safe.

We found the practice to be good in providing safe services. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

The practice was previously inspected on 15 December 2015. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection, the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, one area was identified as requiring improvement, as the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time:

Regulation 17 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Good governance. We found the registered person did not mitigate risks to patients due to having equipment stored in an unlocked room. Patient information was not always kept securely as this was also kept in an unlocked room accessible to patients. This was in breach of Regulation 17(1)(2)(b)(c) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (RA) Regulations 2014

During the inspection on 6 March 2017 we were provided with evidence which demonstrated Medlock Medical Practice Dr Hossain & Dr Chauhan are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.

During this focused inspection the practice also provided evidence of other improvements following the previous inspection, for example:

• The practice is provided with information to ensure the communal defibrillator is in working order. The practice has oxygen in place and systems were in place to check this was ready to use.
• The provider revisited their fire risk assessment and provided evidence they had procedures in place to ensure the safe evacuation of patients from the first floor where the practice is located.
• We saw a new system was in place to log prescriptions and ensure they are kept securely.
• There was a series of clinical protocols in place and these had been reviewed to ensure they were in line with current guidance. The practice plan to monitor use of clinical protocols in the future by auditing consultations.

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 Medlock Medical Practice Dr Hossain & Dr Chauhan on 15 December 2015. 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 usually assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had 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.
• Patients said they usually found it easy to make an appointment 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.

We saw three areas of outstanding practice:

• The practice made ‘comfort calls’ to vulnerable patients every six weeks. These were to make sure patients had enough medicine and to ask about their wellbeing. Where it was thought a patient was struggling, for example if they were unable to get their shopping, they were referred to an appropriate support group.

• The practice had organised four Christmas parties for their patients over the age of 70. They specifically invited patients who they did not often see as a way of keeping in touch with them and informally seeing how they were.

• Where it was thought the practice might need to be contacted urgently, for example when a patient was receiving end of life care, a separate telephone number was provided so the main switchboard could be by-passed. District nurses and Macmillan nurses could also use this telephone line.

There were two areas where the provider must make improvements:

• The provider must ensure stocks of equipment such as needles are kept securely.

• All patient information must be kept in a secure place.

There were also areas where the provider should make improvements:

• The provider should put a system in place to check the oxygen and defibrillator, kept in other parts of the building, are in place and ready for use.

• The provider should revisit their fire risk assessment and document the procedure to follow when evacuating patients in the event of a fire.

• The provider should put a system in place to log prescription serial numbers in order to check they have been kept securely.

• The provider should put a series of clinical protocols in place so they can be assured all GPs follow the same procedure.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice