Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We

carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Green and Fir Road

Surgeries on 23 February 2016. 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 which most staff were aware of.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed with

  the exception of those relating to the practice’s ability to respond to a

  medical emergency.

• Staff

  assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence

  based guidance. Staff had 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; however, there was no information about making

  a complaint displayed in the waiting area at the Fir Road site.

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment

  with a named GP and that 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 improvement are:

• Ensure

  that all staff are aware of the process for reporting and recording incidents.

• Ensure

   all staff complete training updates

  within recommended timescales.

• Ensure

  that language translation services are advertised to patients.

• Ensure

  that information about how to complain is available to patients at both sites.

• Ensure

  that they identify all patients who are carers.

• Ensure

  that there is provision for patients to access a male GP.

• Review

  their risk mitigation plan with regards to their access to a defibrillator to

  ensure that it is sufficiently robust.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice