We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Chester Road Surgery on 11 April 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

• what we found when we inspected
• information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
• information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall and good for all population groups.

We found that:

• The practice demonstrated appropriate and well embedded systems in place to safeguard patients from abuse. However, safety systems to support the consideration of risk throughout the practice had led to some gaps.
• The practice demonstrated that outcomes for patients with diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension were higher than local and national averages.
• Cancer screening uptake rates were generally in line with local and national averages, but the practice had plans in place to improve these further.
• Childhood immunisation uptake rates were generally in line with local and national averages. The practice was taking actions to ensure this continued to improve. For example, discussing the importance of immunisations with parents opportunistically.
• Patient satisfaction scores in relation to involvement in care and treatment and how patients felt treated by the practice was higher than local and national averages. Feedback we received generally confirmed this.
• Patient satisfaction scores in relation to access to care and treatment was generally higher than local and national averages. The practice walk-in service for the morning doctor’s surgery was generally popular with patients.
• The practice leadership demonstrated that they were open and committed to the service delivery of quality care. Internal systems for learning and dissemination of information were effective. Systems to support management of risk had allowed some low risk gaps, but the leadership team were committed to closing addressing these.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review systems to support the management of risk to ensure all areas are fully considered and risk mitigated.
• Continue to ensure that prescribing of antibiotic, antibacterial and hypnotic items moves in line with local and national averages.
• Review systems for ensuring that childhood immunisation uptake rates continue to improve.
• Continue to implement actions in relation to ensuring that verbal complaints are fully documented and used for learning.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care