Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Yetminster Surgery on 4 October 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.
• 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 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and 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.

• The practice hosted physiotherapy, chiropody and complimentary medicines in their treatment suite.

• The practice also has a dispensary that employs four dispensing staff; they dispense medicines to over 95% of the practice population.

• Approximately 15% of the patients were pupils at Sherborne School for Boys and the International College. The practice held surgeries at the school health centre six times a week, including Saturdays. These clinics were open access for the pupils.

• 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.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We inspected this outcome to follow up on a compliance action set at the last inspection. The compliance action was set because the provider did not consistently operate effective recruitment procedures to ensure staff were suitable for employment prior to them starting work.

We did not speak with people who used the practice about the requirements relating to workers. We spoke with the practice manager of the health centre as part of the inspection.

We found there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place.

Patients were treated with consideration and respect. We spoke with five patients. One patient told us, “Everybody here (surgery staff) is professional, kind and friendly.”

Patients were able to get an appointment and felt they had sufficient time to discuss their health needs. One patient told us, “I personally find it very easy to get an appointment here. If I really need to see them they will bend over backwards to get me in.”

The surgery had arrangements to ensure cleanliness. One patient told us, “The cleanliness is good, I have no issues.”

The provider carried out a number of pre-employment checks to ensure that staff had the necessary skills and experience. However, consideration that staff were of good character prior to them being employed was not clearly evident.

The surgery monitored the quality and safety of the service and sought out and responded to patient feedback to improve the service.