Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Surgery, 35 Allendale Road, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0RA on 16 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.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including homeless people, travellers and those with a learning disability.
• 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.
• Staff assessed needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• Clinical audits demonstrated quality improvement.
• Staff had most of the skills, knowledge and experience required to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Staff worked with multidisciplinary teams to understand and meet the range and complexity of patients’ needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 are fully understood and implemented.

• The practice should take action to proactively identify patients with caring responsibilities.

• Implement a programme of clinical audit to improve outcomes for patients.

• Improve sharing of care plans of patients with mental health disorders.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice