This practice is rated as good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Arnside Medical Practice on 9 February 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• 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.

We saw an example of outstanding practice:

• A “Listening Service” was established by the provider at Ash Trees Surgery, and this had been extended to Arnside Surgery at the request of their patients. The Listening Service was a free, confidential service facilitated by a volunteer chaplain listener on a weekly basis. Patients we spoke to at the practice told us this service was highly valued.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Put in place a checklist of medicines to be included on the emergency trolley;

• Undertake appraisals with all members of staff;

• Undertake appropriate risk assessments for staff who may not require a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check, and ensure that only staff who have had a DBS check act as chaperones.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice