We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 December 2017 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

The Oakley Partnership provides a private medical service to adults and children. Services include a private general medical service, immunisations such as child immunisations and travel vaccinations, weight loss injections, bio-identical hormone therapy, alcohol dependency support, sexual health services, BCG service (Tuberculosis) vaccination and screening and, private GP consultations. The practice team consists of a single handed doctor, a practice nurse, practice manager and a team of three support staff with reception and administration roles.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The practice is open for appointments Monday to Friday. Appointments can be booked Monday 9am to 5.45pm, Tuesday 9.30am to 5pm, Wednesday 9.30am to 5pm, Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 9.30am to 4pm. Patients make appointments with the practice directly by telephone.

The practice is not required to offer an out of hours service. Patients who need medical assistance out of corporate operating hours are requested to seek assistance from alternative services such as the NHS 111 telephone service or accident and emergency. This is detailed on the practice website.

As part of our inspection we reviewed comment cards where patients and members of the public shared their views and experiences of the service. There were 39 completed CQC comment cards, patients commented that they were were satisfied with the care provided by the practice. Staff were described as caring, friendly and helpful.

Our key findings were:

• The service was providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
• There were systems in place for the overall management of significant events and incidents. Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• There was an overarching governance framework which supported the delivery of good quality care.
• Staff demonstrated that they understood their responsibilities and all had received training on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults relevant to their role.
• The practice encouraged and valued feedback from patients, the public and staff. It proactively sought patients’ feedback. Comment cards and satisfaction surveys highlighted that patients were pleased with the care provided by the doctor and staff were described as friendly, helpful and caring.
• Staff felt supported and were confident in raising concerns and suggesting improvements. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Services were planned and delivered to take into account the needs of different patient groups and to help ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care.
• The provider supplied unlicensed medicines against valid special clinical needs of an individual patient where there was no suitable licensed medicine available.