This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating June 2016 – Requires Improvement). The previous rating in June 2016 of ‘Requires Improvement’ was under different management. We found that the new provider had made significant improvements across the practice.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive at Vale Drive Medical Practice as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

That the provider had effective governance processes in place, risk was well managed and there was evidence of improvements to patient care.

For example:

• 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.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Ensure the improvements made to the management of high risk medicines are sustained and embedded.
• Ensure ongoing checks for patient safety alerts relating to new patients are recorded.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.