Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Centre Surgery on 13 April 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Information about safety was recorded, monitored, reviewed and any issues were addressed in a timely way. There was an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events and complaints.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients said they were treated with kindness, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Urgent appointments were available on the same day
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• The premises were clean and well-maintained as part of the tenancy agreement.
• 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 and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

• The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• The practice should ensure it is involved with cleaning audits done by the landlord and receives reports so that it can monitor the service it receives.

• The practice should obtain copies of risk assessments done by the landlord related to the safety of the premises.

• The practice should endeavour to identify all its patients who provide care for friends or relatives.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice