Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Squires Lane Medical Practice on 19 April 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. Within that overall rating the practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services. This was because it was not meeting some legal requirements in relation to prescription form security and staff recruitment checks. The full comprehensive report of the April 2016 inspection can be found at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-546095318.

This inspection on 12 May 2017 was an announced focused inspection and was carried out to confirm that the practice completed their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 19 April 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had put in place clearly defined systems, processes and practices to minimise risks to patient safety in relation to prescription form security and staff recruitment.

The practice had also acted on recommendations we made at our previous inspection and implemented additional improvements:

• The practice had developed a business plan to support it in the delivery of its vision to provide high quality care and promote good outcomes for patents.

• The practice had met with the Barnet Integrated Locality Team (BILT) to explore ways of working with the team to support patients who were at risk of avoidable admission to hospital better.

• The practice was able to meet a patient’s request to be seen by a male or female GP.

At our previous inspection on 19 April 2016 we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services because blank prescription forms and pads were not securely stored and there was no system in place to monitor their use; and because not all appropriate recruitment checks had been undertaken prior to employment of staff. At this inspection we found these shortfalls had been remedied. Consequently, the practice is rated as good for providing safe services.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Squires Lane Medical Practice on 19 April 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. Within that overall rating the practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services. This was because it was not meeting some legal requirements in relation to prescription form security and staff recruitment checks. The full comprehensive report of the April 2016 inspection can be found at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-546095318.

This inspection on 12 May 2017 was an announced focused inspection and was carried out to confirm that the practice completed their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 19 April 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had put in place clearly defined systems, processes and practices to minimise risks to patient safety in relation to prescription form security and staff recruitment.

The practice had also acted on recommendations we made at our previous inspection and implemented additional improvements:

• The practice had developed a business plan to support it in the delivery of its vision to provide high quality care and promote good outcomes for patents.

• The practice had met with the Barnet Integrated Locality Team (BILT) to explore ways of working with the team to support patients who were at risk of avoidable admission to hospital better.

• The practice was able to meet a patient’s request to be seen by a male or female GP.

At our previous inspection on 19 April 2016 we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services because blank prescription forms and pads were not securely stored and there was no system in place to monitor their use; and because not all appropriate recruitment checks had been undertaken prior to employment of staff. At this inspection we found these shortfalls had been remedied. Consequently, the practice is rated as good for providing safe services.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with eight patients during our visit. Overall patients we spoke with were happy with the service. Patients told us they "trusted" their GP and more than one patient told us “we have been coming here for many years and it’s a good practice and we are happy." Patients were able to make an appointment to see their GP without many problems.

Patients understood the care and treatment choices available to them. Patients received care and treatment, that was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure patient's safety and welfare. A patient told us "doctors have been very thorough and have always given me time."

Patients were protected from the risk of abuse. The provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening.

Patients spoken with commented that the practice was clean and tidy. They told us that staff washed their hands and used gloves before examining them.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of service provided, to ensure that medicines were safely ordered, stored and disposed of.

People's records were accurate and fit for purpose. If people were prescribed medication or had an immunisation, this was recorded in their notes. Medical records were securely stored and only accessible to authorised members of staff.

There is no registered manager in place currently at the practice. The provider has advised that they will be applying shortly.