Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bentham Medical Practice on 7 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, although the practice was rated as requires improvement for safety. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bentham Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 16 May 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulation that we identified in our previous inspection on 7 June 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

The practice is now rated as good for safe services, and overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had taken action to address the concerns raised at the CQC inspection in June 2016. They had put measures in place to ensure they were compliant with regulations.
• Appropriate arrangements were now in place for the secure storage of medicines.
• Effective arrangements to assess the risk of, prevent, detect and control the spread of healthcare related infections were in place. These included ensuring that appropriate measures were in place to dispose of clinical waste from the branch surgery at Ingleton and ensuring toys were cleaned regularly.

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks were carried out for clinical staff and those carrying out chaperoning duties.
• Furthermore, the recommendations following the June 2016 inspection to review standard operating procedures to ensure they reflect current arrangements within the dispensary, improve accessibility to the branch surgery premises, and consider the need to develop a clear and realistic long term strategy for the practice had been acted on.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bentham Medical Practice on 7 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.
• 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.
• Patients said they were able to get an appointment with a GP when they needed one, 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 in place and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which they acted on.
• Staff throughout the practice worked well together as a team.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to securely store medicines.
• Implement effective arrangements to assess the risk of, prevent, detect and control the spread of healthcare related infections, including; ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to dispose of clinical waste from the branch surgery at Ingleton and ensuring toys are cleaned regularly.
• Ensure Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out for clinical staff and those carrying out chaperoning duties.

In addition, the provider should:

• Review standard operating procedures to ensure they reflect current arrangements within the dispensary.
• Take steps to improve accessibility to the branch surgery premises. The external door did not open automatically and there was no facility for patients who needed assistance to summon support.
• Consider the need to develop a clear and realistic long term strategy for the practice.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with patients who visited the surgery on the day of our inspection. We spoke with the practice manager and other team members too.

Patients told us they were very happy with the care and support they received from this practice. We were told they were happy to see any doctor one person commented “I don’t mind which doctor I see they are all good.” Another told us “The nurses are really nice, nothing is too much trouble.” They said their views about their care and treatment were listened to and their needs were met.

Patients told us they did not have to wait too long for appointments and that they were always welcomed in a friendly manner. Some patients commented on the triage doctor system and how this had helped them to be seen quickly.

We found that patients were protected from the risk of abuse.

We saw that there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. All areas of the practice were clean and welcoming.

Staff told us that they were supported by the doctors and other team members and that they were positively encouraged to develop as individuals within the teams.

Patients told us that they had not had any need to complain; but if necessary they would speak immediately to either the doctor or the practice manager.

We reviewed the information available to us about Bentham Medical Practice on 13 June 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.