Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr J Heathcote and Partners (also known as South View partnership) on 08 December 2015. 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.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• Staff had 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.
• Patients said they sometimes found it difficult to get through to the practice by telephone
• Patients told us appointments with a named GP were not readily available, and that this led to reduced continuity of care. However urgent appointments with a GP were available.
• 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.

However we found that the provider should:

• Ensure improvements are made in the documentation of the incidents management process, and a written policy is in place in relation to significant events.

• Ensure emergency numbers are included in their business continuity plan

• Ensure work continues to ensure improved access to the service, including telephone access and appointments availability.

• Carry out risk assessment to demonstrate whether non-clinical staff require disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks

• Ensure nursing staff have appropriate training in safeguarding children and adults from abuse.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about South View Partnership on 11 June 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.