Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced focussed follow up inspection on 3 November 2016 to follow up on concerns we found at The Woodland Medical Practice on 25 February 2016. The inspection in November 2016 was to ensure that improvement had been made following our inspection in February 2016 when breaches of regulations had been identified. The inspection in February 2016 found breaches of regulation and rated the practice as requires improvement overall, specifically in safe and well-led services.

At the inspection on 3 November 2016 we found that overall the practice had implemented changes and that the service was meeting the requirements of the regulations. The ratings for the practice have been updated to reflect our findings following the improvements made since our last inspection in February 2016; the practice is now rated as good overall.

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

• The practice had in place and followed appropriate policies and guidance such as a cold chain policy and protocol.

• The policies were practice specific and reflective of the requirements of the practice to enable them to carry out their roles in a safe and effective manner including resetting fridge temperatures on a daily basis.

• The practice had robust systems and processes in place for safeguarding children, including implementation of and adherence to the practice’s ‘Safeguarding Children Action Plan'.

• The practice had robust systems in place for monitoring patients and the quality of care, including the implementation of and adherence to the practice’s ‘improvement plan for GSF meetings’ and their ‘shared care prescribing’ plan.

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 Woodland Medical Practice on 25 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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.
• 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 that appointments were easily available, often with their GP of choice at short notice and valued the daily ‘sit and wait’ surgery.

• 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.

• Some systems and processes in place were not robust. For example, safeguarding and some ‘shared care’ arrangements.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure staff have in place and follow appropriate policies and guidance such as a cold chain policy and protocol which are reflective of the requirements of the practice and enable them to carry out their roles in a safe and effective manner including resetting fridge temperatures on a daily basis.

• Ensure there are robust systems and processes in place for safeguarding children, including implementation of and adherence to the practice’s ‘Safeguarding Children Action Plan.

• Ensure there are effective systems in place for monitoring patients and the quality of care, including the implementation of and adherence to the practice’s ‘improvement plan for GSF meetings’ and their ‘shared care prescribing’ plan.

In addition the provider should:

• Ensure all clinicians are kept up to date with national guidance and guidelines.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice