Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Crick Medical Practice on 13 April 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 assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• The practice held regular staff and clinical meetings where learning was shared from significant events and complaints.
• They worked well with the multidisciplinary team to plan and implement care for their patients.
• Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Staff were described as friendly, helpful and professional.
• 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.
• Urgent appointments were available on the day of request.
• 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:

• Continue to identify and support carers.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

When we inspected Crick Medical Practice in October 2013 we found that some improvements were required concerning safety of equipment and the management of medicines. We judged that this would have a minor impact on people using the service and requested that the practice submit a plan showing how they would address these issues.

On 15 July 2014 we inspected the practice again and found that the areas identified had been addressed and all actions completed.

We spoke with three patients on the day of our inspection. One patient told us that all the staff at Crick Medical Practice were friendly and cared for people’s welfare. Another patient told us that the doctors and nurses explained what they have found in a manner that they could understand. They also said that if treatment was required the doctors explained this to them and they were able to decide if they wish to receive treatment.

Patients also explained that they felt safe at the practice and commented on how well looked after they were by the doctors and nurses at the service. We found some concerns in relation to the management of medicines at the practice and the safety and suitability of equipment.