Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Ecclesbourne Practice on 13 January 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were generally 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 compassion, 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 to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients 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 and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review arrangements for patients with learning disabilities annual health care checks.
• Implement effective systems for checking contents of the first aid kit, and premises fixed wiring and maintaining non-clinical staff pre-employment reference checks.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We last inspected on the 7 January 2014 and found non-compliance in relation to cleanliness and infection control, safety and suitability of premises and requirements relating to workers. At this inspection we found that the service had met these essential standards of care.

We found there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection and quality monitoring systems were in place to identify, assess and manage risks.

The provider had taken steps to provide care in an environment that was suitably designed and adequately maintained.

There were effective recruitment and selection processes in place. We found that people were cared for and supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

We spoke to nine people and received written comments from ten people. We spoke to eight staff including a doctor, a nurse, a health care assistant, reception staff and managers.

We observed that people were treated with dignity and respect. Reception staff spoke politely. People told us that the care was always explained to them.

We looked at patients records on the computer system. We found comprehensive health checks including urine assessments, height, weight a BP and lifestyle checks were completed when they first registered.

There were clear safeguarding and whistleblowing policies. Staff were aware that these policies were in place and told us that they would alert the doctors if they witnessed or suspected any abuse.

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. There were quality monitoring systems in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety of people using the service. However, people were not always cared for in a clean, hygienic environment.

We found that the provider did not ensure that the waiting area was adequately maintained. Recruitment checks were inconsistent and occupational health checks were not always completed.