Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Royds Healthy Living Centre on 19 July 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.

• 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. The GPs and Business Manager had met with patients to discuss their concerns and improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns. There were two lead GPs identified who led on all clinical complaints and provided advice and support to other clinicians in the practice in relation to complaints.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed and the practice was able to evidence references for all staff with copies of job descriptions. The practice had a robust electronic storage and retrieval system in place for staff records. All staff had appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which had been undertaken on all staff. DBS checks identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable.

• 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. Staff told us that they would feel confident to raise any concerns with the GP partners and that there was an open and supportive culture within the practice.

• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

We saw areas of outstanding practice

• Royds Healthy Living Centre actively looked to make sure that they identify and prioritise care for any who may be vulnerable. The practice has pioneered a new template with the CCG in the last year around equitable access needs and they have already met the new standard well in advance of the CCG deadline.

• In the role as mental health commissioning lead for the CCG a Royds Healthy Living Centre GP led the team that designed and established the award winning First Response Service. All patients on the SMI (Severe Mental Illness) register are given an annual check-up focusing on the five care processes defined nationally.

• The practice health champions group hosted a number of community focussed social groups such as the” Knit and Natter” group. The practice and the partners used these groups to deliver health education messages and improve access to health care for their patients. For example, the practice focussed on teaching people how to book and arrange appointments and what services were available.

• The practice health champions managed stalls and provision of second hand clothes. There were stalls in reception that encouraged all to participate in supporting this good cause.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice