Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Rydal Group Practice on 17 January 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Refresher training around safeguarding and infection prevention was overdue for some staff although we saw confirmation from a training provider showing specific dates when this training would be provided.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed with the exception of fire safety risks.
• All staff who acted as chaperones had undertaken DBS checks. (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).
• 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. 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 improvement are:

• Ensure that all staff follow through with planned training in safeguarding and infection prevention and control.
• Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for non-clinical staff to ascertain whether DBS checks should be undertaken.

• Ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out and recommended actions are followed up promptly.

• Review how carers are identified and recorded on the clinical system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to them.
• Ensure planned improvements of arrangements to support patients with hearing impairments are implemented.
• Consider putting arrangements in place to review how patient consent forms are used at the practice.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice