Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a desk top follow up inspection of The New Surgery on 19 January 2016. This was to follow up on concerns identified during the initial inspection of the practice conducted on 28 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had conducted appropriate recruitment checks on their staff ensuring locum GPs had undertaken DBS checks.

• The practice had conducted a legionella risk assessment and the practice manager had undertaken training on Legionnaires disease.

Professor Steve Field

(CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The New Surgery on 28 October 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Staff had received training in safeguarding children and understood their responsibilities to raise concerns. Some staff were awaiting training in adult safeguarding. All staff who undertook chaperone duties had been trained and were supervised.
• Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• The premises were clean and tidy. The practice had an infection prevention control lead and an annual infection control audit had been conducted.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed with the exception of those relating to recruitment checks for locum GPs.
• Practice staff had undertaken basic life support training and had access to emergency equipment and medicines.
• The practice carried out assessments and treatment in line with relevant and current evidence based guidance and standards. Data showed patient outcomes were similar to or above the local and national averages. Clinical audits had been conducted and used to inform services. The practice actively engaged with the CCG in monitoring their performance to improve patient outcomes.
• 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 was available and used by the clinical team to assist patients to understand and manage their conditions

• Complaints were thoroughly investigated and responded to in a timely and appropriate manner. Lessons learnt were clearly identified and sharing disseminated but not recorded.

• Urgent appointments were available on the day they were requested and patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the accessibility of the service.

• The practice did not hold regular practice management meetings but spoke regularly with staff to discuss issues as they occurred. Staff reported feeling valued and supported by their peers and the practice management team.

• The practice invited and considered feedback from staff and patients.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure all necessary pre-employment checks are conducted for staff.
• Conduct a legionella risk assessment and undertake appropriate actions.

In addition the provider should:

• Ensure records are maintained of checks on equipment and of discussions with staff.
• Ensure the needs of carers are identified and met.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice