Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Pinfold Medical Practice on 23 June 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.

• 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. 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.

  We saw an area of outstanding practice:

• The practice would routinely visit patients at their home to check on their welfare, deliver medication and were told that a GP also transported a blood sample that had missed the daily transport on their way home from work.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure all staffhave DBS certificates have appropriate checks specific to the practice.

• Ensure all complaints are accurately recorded and responded to.

• Ensure the practice conducts monthly audits of vaccines

• The practice should attempt to continue to promote the Patient Participation Group (PPG) and recruit further members.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We met with two patients and one member of the Patient Reference Group (PRG) and asked about their experiences when visiting the practice. They told us they were very extremely satisfied with the care, support and advice they had received. One patient said, "The doctors here virtually saved my daughter's life. They are dedicated doctors and very caring." Another said, "They have been a lifeline to me. With their care and support they have managed to keep me out of hospital for the last 18 months."

All the staff we spoke with understood the procedures to protect adults and children from abuse.

We saw the practice was up to date with infection control policies and procedures. When we spoke with staff they had a clear understanding how to reduce the risk of cross infection. The surgery was clean and well maintained.

Staff were provided with support, guidance and training to make sure they were able to carry out their role safely.

We found the dispensary staff adhered to procedures, for the recording, storage, handling, administration and disposal of medicines.

We saw that the general practitioners were following national guidance as well as local Clinical Commissioning Group guidelines to make sure they were using best practice guidance.