Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Weardale Practice on 22 August and 2 September 2016. Both of the branch surgeries were also visited.

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. The practice proactively identified opportunities for learning in all interactions with patients and service providers.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed based on national best practice guidance.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• There was a consistent focus on continuity of care through named GPs for families and adherence to Royal College of General Practitioner guidance for older people. Urgent appointments were available the same day and patients whose condition meant they were unlikely to adhere to booked appointments were seen opportunistically.
• 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.

We saw areas of outstanding practice:

• The practice worked closely with a local voluntary driving service to enable their less mobile patients to attend the practice to see the practice nurses and /or GPs. There were 832 journeys had been made for various appointments in the past 12 months which saved home visits and also provided care for patients nearer to home.

• The continuous improvement work that specific GP’s were involved in, which benefitted both their patients and the wider community. For example, to address the increasing rates of pre-diabetes in the local population as well as the risks of social isolation, the practice worked the Durham Dales Health Federation to help support an integrated diabetes service.

• The senior team had a demonstrable commitment to staff wellbeing and welfare. For example, they arranged team ‘away days’ that also included the family members of staff.

The area where the provider should make improvements was;

Ensure the choice of medicines for emergency use are in line with national guidance and embed processes to ensure they are checked for their fitness to use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice