Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced desk-based inspection of Morland Road Surgery on 14 October 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

We had previously conducted an announced comprehensive inspection of Morland Road Surgery on 17 February 2016. As a result of our findings during the visit, the practice was rated as good for being effective, caring, responsive and well-led and requires improvements for safe. We found that the provider had breached Regulation 12 (1)(2)(f) Safe care and treatment.

We also asked the practice to review their processes for infection control procedures ensuring that curtains were changed at appropriate intervals; review the induction process for new staff ensuring that it was up to date and relevant to staff roles and review patients’ access to female GPs. These reviews did not relate to regulatory breaches, they were merely suggestions to improve the service.

The provider sent us evidence to confirm that they had reviewed all these areas. As a result the following had been put in place:

• Curtains had been changed in all surgeries and arrangements had been put in place to change them periodically at appropriate intervals.

• Patients had access to a GP of their choice. A female GP was now available to patients three days a week.

• The induction process has been updated. We saw that induction processes were relevant to staff roles and included relevant training.

The practice also wrote to us to tell us what they planned to do to make improvements and meet their regulatory requirement.

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

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• There was equipment and medicines available in the event of a medical emergency.
• Appropriate checks were carried out to the equipment and the expiry of medicines was monitored.

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 Morland Road Surgery on 17 February 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 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 found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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 with the exception of not having medical oxygen to respond to a medical emergency and systems in place to monitor the expiry of medication.
• 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 areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure the availability of medical oxygen to enable them to respond appropriately to medical emergencies.

• Ensure appropriate systems are put in place to monitor the expiry of medication.

In addition the provider should:

• Review processes for infection control procedures ensuring curtains are changed at the appropriate intervals/as and when necessary.

• Review the induction process for new staff ensuring that it is up to date and relevant to staff roles.

• Review patient access to female GPs

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

During our inspection we spoke with the services’ practice manager, a General Practitioner (GP), a nurse and a receptionist.

We also spoke with eight people who were using the surgery on the day of our inspection. They told us that staff who worked there treated them with respect and that overall they felt satisfied with the service they received from the practice.

Patients we met told us they were generally happy with the medical services they received at the practice. One patient told us, “GP’s are always very understanding, even though we come more often”. Another patient told us during a recent health concern, “I’ve felt very supported”.