Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Steppingstones Medical Practice on 28 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• 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.

• 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.

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

• Results from the national GP patient survey published in July 2015 showed that patient’s responded positively regarding access to care and treatment. However, we received mixed feedback on the day of our inspection as some patients highlighted that it was difficult to access the practice through telephone and that waiting times were sometimes long.

• The practice had good facilities and was equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

• While medical equipment was visibly clean, the practice did not have cleaning records to reflect the cleaning of medical equipment. Staff we spoke with confirmed that medical equipment was cleaned before and after use.

• The practice had a clear vision and there was a clear leadership structure in place. Staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure that the management of infection control is robust and reflects national guidance, including adequate record keeping to reflect the cleaning of medical equipment and to support the management of infection control.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice