Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Aldergate Medical Practice on 2 March 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. It was also good for providing services to the population groups of older people, people with long-term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

Our key findings were as follows:

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Some patients told us that it was difficult to make pre-bookable appointments, although all said that they could be seen urgently when required.
• 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.

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

The provider should:

• Ensure that patients, visitors and staff are protected from the risk of water borne infection by means of completing a legionella risk assessment.

Audit the outcomes of patients who receive minor surgery at the practice to help to ensure that surgery undertaken is effective and complications are known, managed and minimised.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice