Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Rushden Medical Centre on 10 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• There was a clear leadership structure, good team work, and appropriate support arrangements for staff.

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received role specific training.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• The practice was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• 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 improvement are:

• Monitor the infection control floor and furniture replacement programme so these are delivered on time and according to the schedule and completed by March 2016.

• Risk assess security in relation to prescription pads, this relates to when clinical staff leave the consultation room

• Continue to monitor the measures implemented to improve access to a GP of the patent’s choice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

During our inspection we spoke with four patients who used the service, two GP's, the practice manager, two practice staff, two nurses and a midwife.

Patients we spoke with were complimentary about the services received. They told us that staff were helpful, listened to their needs and treated them with respect. The GPs they told us, had supported them with their care and treatment in a way that met their needs. A patient told us, ‘’ My doctor is very good, they always takes time to explain and make sure I have understood everything we discussed.’’ Another patient told us, ‘’I am very happy with the way staff support me. I can talk to them about my concerns and get proper advice.’’

Practice staff we spoke with were aware of who they should refer to, should they have any concerns about patient's safety or if they suspected any patient including a child had been abused. This showed that staff were alert to signs of abuse and knew how to respond.

The provider had systems in place that monitored the quality of service provision. The practice regularly obtained opinions from patients about the standards of the services they received. This meant that the practice listened to patients and their experiences and took steps to make improvements.