Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Priors Field Surgery on the 26th October 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 and a comprehensive range of risk assessments had been carried out.
• 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.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• The practice should continue to proactively identify carers.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Five people we spoke with all told us that they were satisfied with the health service they had received from Priors Field surgery. One person said, "I can recommend my doctor they are very respectful and seem to listen to my concerns”. Another person told us, “I have never had a problem making an appointment. I have no complaints at all”.

We found that some improvements could be made to ensure that people had clearly consented to do not resuscitate (DNR) instruction that had been recorded.

Care records that we read contained extensive notes about the consultations that people had received.

People told us they had found it easy to collect their prescriptions and one person told us they collected their medication from a local store because they could not easily travel to the surgery for this.

We found that medicines were generally well managed, although some changes to the auditing system of some medicines would ensure that all medicines could be accurately accounted for.

The premises were comfortable, well lit with natural light and had been well maintained and safe from the risks of fire.

Staff were supported through an open door management policy and staff confirmed they felt adequately supported. Supervision of staff was not formal and recorded or a regular arrangement.