Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Brixton Hill Group Practice on 21 September 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 not always assessed and well managed as fire safety procedure were not visible in reception. There was no information in clinical rooms displaying what steps to be taken in the event of a needle stick injury.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Not all staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment. There were gaps in role appropriate training.

• 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.

• 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..

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Review system/process for documenting and recording training, ensuring that all staff complete role appropriate training.

• Consider putting a poster/sign in clinical rooms to display what steps should be taken in the event of a needle stick injury.

• Consider reviewing where information is displayed in reception, detailing what to do in the event of a fire.

• Review GP processes for recording audits, ensuring that audits are documented.

• Review process for identifying carers and support that is provided for them.

• Consider how best to respond to the issues raised in the Patient Survey.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice