Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Apsley Surgery on 20 August 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Apsley Surgery also operates a branch surgery in the Norton area of Stoke on Trent. We did not inspect the branch surgery as part of this inspection.

Please note that when referring to information throughout this report, for example any reference to the Quality and Outcomes Framework data, this relates to the most recent information available to the CQC at that time.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
• Patients said they were treated with 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 told us they could usually get an appointment when they needed one, although they may have to wait for a pre-bookable appointment with a specific GP. Urgent appointments were 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:

• Complete a practice specific fire risk assessment.
• Record clinical audits in a way that clearly identifies the four stages of the audit cycle.
• Complete training on the Mental Capacity Act and Children’s Act for all staff.
• Ensure they always follow their own policy when dealing with complaints.
• Consider developing a strategic plan to support the delivery of the practice values and any future developments.
• Carry out a risk assessment to ensure the safety of confidential information within the practice.
• Develop an action plan to address the issues identified in the national GP survey and Friends and Family Test.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice