Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of West Farm Surgery on 10 March 2015.

Overall, we rated the practice as good. We found the practice to be good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. Our key findings were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Staff reported feeling able to voice any concerns or make suggestions for improvement

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. The practice learned from incidents and took action to prevent any recurrence.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Feedback from patients was positive; they told us staff treated them with respect and kindness.

• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

• 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.

• 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.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

• Introduce systems to record minor incidents to enable the practice to pick up on themes and trends.

• The provider should ensure that there are storage facilities and processes in place for the appropriate storage of samples for collection.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice