This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating 19 July 2018 – Good)

The safe key question at this inspection is rated as: Good.

We carried out an announced focused inspection at The Corner Surgery Dr Mulla on 24 January 2019 to follow up a breach of regulation from our last inspection carried out on 19 July 2018.

The full comprehensive report on the July 2018 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Corner Surgery Dr Mulla on our website at .

At the previous inspection of 19 July 2018, we rated the practice as ‘good’ overall but we identified a breach of Regulation 19 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 - Fit and proper persons employed. This was because recruitment procedures were not established and operated effectively for all persons employed.

This inspection was a follow up inspection to confirm that the provider had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The provider had taken action to meet the breach of regulation. The provider had carried out appropriate recruitment checks for all temporary GPs.

We also found that the provider had reviewed and updated a significant event analysis and their system for managing significant events.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the evidence table for further information.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Corner Surgery – Dr Mulla on 17 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as Good.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. The practice took the opportunity to learn from incidents.

• The practice used proactive methods to improve patient outcomes, working with other local providers to share best practice.

• The practice was highly responsive in ensuring patients received the care they needed. For example, where the practice found gaps in the call and re-call systems of a local clinic, the practice informed the clinic and patients and alerted other practices to this potential oversight.

• Feedback from patients about their care was consistently and strongly positive; in all questions put to patients in the NHS England National GP Patient Survey (results published July 2015) the practice scored higher than CCG and national averages.

• The practice worked closely with other organisations to ensure that they meet patients’ needs. For example we saw that the practice had the highest diagnosis rates for dementia and proactively screened older patients for undiagnosed depression.

• The practice provided appointments in excess of the number required contractually, to increase the availability and access of GPs, particularly for patients with multiple health issues.

• Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand. Complaints received by the practice were investigated and responded to appropriately. We saw that lessons learned were shared with all staff and colleagues in the locality when appropriate.
• The practice demonstrated a high commitment to the provision of services that fully met the needs of patients. Plans for the development of services at the practice supported this.

We found one area were the practice could make improvements:

The practice should record batch numbers of prescriptions issued to each prescriber to enable better tracking and tracing of each prescription.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Corner Surgery – Dr Mulla on 19 July 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had systems to manage risk and to ensure that safety incidents were less likely to happen. Overall, when safety incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes. However, we found an example of when timely action had not been taken following an event.
• There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety. For example, infection control practices were carried out appropriately and there were regular checks on the environment and on equipment used.
• Systems were in place to deal with medical emergencies and staff were trained in basic life support.
• Clinicians assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance in the areas we looked at.
• The provider routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care provided. Clinical audits were carried out and the results of these were used to improve outcomes for patients.
• Data showed that outcomes for patients at this practice were similar to outcomes for patients locally and nationally.
• Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Staff told us they felt supported in their roles and with their professional development.
• Feedback from patients about the care and treatment they received from clinicians was positive.
• Patients told us they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
• The practice had appropriate facilities, including disabled access. It was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• The provider learnt from complaints and made improvements to the service as a result.
• There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
• The provider had a clear vision to provide a safe, good quality service.
• Systems were in place to check on the quality of the service and ensure good clinical governance.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure fit and proper persons are employed.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review the system for recording and investigating incidents and significant events to ensure that timely action is always taken.

• Continue to monitor patient feedback with regards to changes to the phone system and access to appointments.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.