Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Severn Fields Medical Practice on 31 May 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, with requires improvement for providing safe services. The full comprehensive report from 31 May 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Severn Fields Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

This inspection was carried out on 16 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their improvement plan in relation to the areas identified in our previous inspection on 31 May 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice held weekly management meetings and had improved the documentation of the learning, action points and trend analysis for significant incidents, complaints and events.

• A system was in place to ensure chaperone trained staff had been subject to appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

• The practice recruitment system ensured staff references and clinical staff verification checks with their appropriate professional body were consistently recorded. The records held included proof of identification, references, qualifications, appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service and where appropriate medical indemnity.

• The provider had reviewed the reception staff document used to triage the urgency of calls to the most appropriate clinical staff member or service. The document was simplified and offered clear direction. When reception staff were unsure they were directed to contact the practice duty team.

• The practice had implemented a system for recording and monitoring medicines that maybe taken by GPs to home visits.

• Staff demonstrated their awareness of the automated external defibrillators (AED), (which provides an electric shock to stabilise a life threatening heart rhythm), oxygen and pulse oximeters (to measure the level of oxygen in a patient’s bloodstream).

• The Infection Prevention and Control lead nurse had completed an infection prevention and control audit.

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

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Severn Fields Medical Practice on 31 May 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, with requires improvement for providing safe services. The full comprehensive report from 31 May 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Severn Fields Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

This inspection was carried out on 16 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their improvement plan in relation to the areas identified in our previous inspection on 31 May 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice held weekly management meetings and had improved the documentation of the learning, action points and trend analysis for significant incidents, complaints and events.

• A system was in place to ensure chaperone trained staff had been subject to appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

• The practice recruitment system ensured staff references and clinical staff verification checks with their appropriate professional body were consistently recorded. The records held included proof of identification, references, qualifications, appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service and where appropriate medical indemnity.

• The provider had reviewed the reception staff document used to triage the urgency of calls to the most appropriate clinical staff member or service. The document was simplified and offered clear direction. When reception staff were unsure they were directed to contact the practice duty team.

• The practice had implemented a system for recording and monitoring medicines that maybe taken by GPs to home visits.

• Staff demonstrated their awareness of the automated external defibrillators (AED), (which provides an electric shock to stabilise a life threatening heart rhythm), oxygen and pulse oximeters (to measure the level of oxygen in a patient’s bloodstream).

• The Infection Prevention and Control lead nurse had completed an infection prevention and control audit.

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

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with six patients during our inspection. They were all generally satisfied with the service they received at the practice. One patient told us, “I have every faith in the doctors here.” Another said, “The doctor always seems happy.”

We saw that patients’ views and experiences were taken into account in the way the service was provided and that they were generally treated with dignity and respect. However, on the day of our inspection, appointments were running 30 minutes late and two patients told us that they had received no information or apology about the delay.

The practice was based in a modern purpose built building. It was clean and well equipped with good facilities for patients with reduced mobility. We saw that there were good processes in place to minimise the risk of cross infection.

We were satisfied that the provider would make all the appropriate checks on staff before their full employment started. The practice manager regularly checked to ensure that healthcare professionals employed at the practice were correctly registered with their appropriate professional body.

There were processes in place for monitoring the quality of service provision. There was also an established system for obtaining opinions from patients about the standard of the service they received.