Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We inspected The Allum Medical Centre on 06 November 2014. This was an announced comprehensive inspection. Overall the practice is rated as good

We rated the practice as good for being safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led. We rated the practice as good for the care provided to older people, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people living in vulnerable circumstances and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice completed reviews of significant events and other incidents and there was evidence that these were used as learning points for clinical staff;
• Training records showed that staff were up to date regarding mandatory training such as safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. We also noted a good skill mix amongst the doctors. For example, some had undertaken further specialist training in sexual and reproductive medicine;
• Patients spoke positively about how they were treated by staff and we noted that this was consistent with comment cards and patient survey feedback;
• The practice had an active Patient Participation Group (PPG - a patient led forum for sharing patients’ views with the practice). Patients spoke positively about how their views were taken on board, highlighting for example the introduction of an online facility to order repeat prescriptions and make appointments; so as to relieve pressure on the practice’s phone system.
• The practice had clear leadership. Senior GPs saw the vision of the practice as being to deliver good quality, patient centred care. We spoke with a range of staff including practice manager, reception staff, the medical care practitioner and GPs, who all understood their roles and responsibilities in delivering this vision.

However, there were areas of practice where improvements were needed. Importantly, the provider should:

• Amend its current cleaning schedule to include individual practice areas such as waiting rooms and treatment rooms;

• Ensure that all non clinical staff undertaking chaperoning duties receive training.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about The Allum Medical Centre on 5 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.