Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Abingdon Health Centre on 9 September 2015. The practice was rated requires improvement for safe, with the overall rating for the practice being good. The full comprehensive report can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Abingdon Health Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We carried out this announced follow up comprehensive inspection on 1 September 2017. Overall the practice is now rated as good in all domains.

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

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment. .
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure regular comprehensive infection control audits are carried out.
• Continue to review performance for child immunisations, with a view to improving uptake to CCG and national averages
• Continue to Identify and support patients with caring responsibilities so their needs can be met.

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 The Abingdon Health Centre on 9 September 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Please note that when referring to information throughout this report, for example any reference to the Quality and Outcomes Framework data, this relates to the most recent information available to the CQC at that time.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. The practice had a system of reporting incidents, however administration management of reported significant events was inconsistent.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to medicines and stock management.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
• Patients said that staff were helpful, caring, approachable and involved them in decisions about their care and treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day through a nurse/GP-led triage system.
• 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.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider must:

• Ensure there is a formal system in place for the monitoring of stock held to identify expired clinical apparatus for removal and safe disposal.
• Review and update the policy and procedure for monitoring stock of emergency medicines and equipment to ensure all expired items are removed and safely disposed of.

Importantly the provider should:

• Ensure all staff have received up to date safeguarding vulnerable adult training.
• Review the refrigerator temperature monitoring processes to ensure performance accuracy in line with best practice guidance.
• Ensure there is a system in place for monitoring distribution of prescription pads.
• Ensure emergency contact numbers in the business continuity plan are up to date.
• Ensure that spill kits are available in the event of accidental mercury spillage from blood pressure monitors still in use at the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice