Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We inspected The Speedwell Practice on 09 October 2014. This was a comprehensive inspection. Overall, we rated the practice as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for older people, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people with long term conditions, people living in vulnerable circumstances and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice completed reviews of significant events and other incidents and there was evidence that these were used as learning points for clinical staff.
• Training records showed that staff were up to date regarding mandatory training such as safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. We also noted a good skills mix amongst the doctors. For example, some had undertaken further specialist training in sexual and reproductive medicine.
• Patients spoke positively about how they were treated by staff and we noted that this was consistent with comment card and patient survey feedback.
• The practice had an active Patient Participation Group (PPG - a patient led forum for sharing patients’ views with the practice). Patients spoke positively about how their views were taken on board, highlighting for example recent changes to the reception area layout to improve patient privacy.
• The practice had clear leadership. Senior GPs saw the vision of the practice as to deliver good quality, patient centred care. We spoke with a range of staff including reception staff, practice nurses, nurse practitioner and GPs who all understood their roles and responsibilities in delivering this vision.

We saw outstanding practice:

• On visits to care homes, GPs used a secure Wi-Fi computer connection to enable their lap tops to access the practice’s clinical software system. Clinical records (including electronic prescribing) could be updated from the care homes as opposed to back at the practice. This enabled responsive and patient centred care.
However, there were areas of practice where improvements were needed. Importantly, the provider should:
• Use its monthly, non clinical staff team meetings to discuss significant events, complaints or share learning; to improve outcomes for patients.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 9 October 2014 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced inspection at The Speedwell Practice on 15 March 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.

There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice