Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Walmsley – Crompton Health Centre on 8 July 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was a system in place for reporting and recording significant events, but this was not always followed.
• Risks to patients were not always assessed and well managed. This included checks relating to the employment of staff.
• 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.
• 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. However the practice did not follow the policy they had in place regarding recording verbal complaints.
• 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 must make improvement are:

• The provider must ensure they have robust recruitment procedures in place and and keep retain all the required information.

• The provider must ensure all chaperones are trained and have had a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check carried out.

• The provider must assess and monitor risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of patients. This includes carrying out infection control audits, making sure all medical supplies are in date, and re-evaluating the business continuity plan to ensure it is specific to the practice.

• The provider must ensure staff have been trained and have a good understanding of safeguarding children.

• The practice must ensure all significant events are recorded with the practice, and that they are investigated to ensure they are not repeated and staff learn from previous events.

The area where the provider should make improvements is:

• The provider should record verbal complaints in line with guidance in their complaints policy. Reg 16 check

• Records of all training, including awareness training provided to staff by partners, should be kept.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

The practice provided an environment that was clean and well maintained.

Health promotion and information leaflets were available. A practice information leaflet was available in the waiting room and at reception.

We were able to speak with five patients during the inspection. All comments were extremely complimentary about all aspects of the service. We were told: "The Dr's here are fantastic", "I have been here for a good few years and can tell you it's going from strength to strength" and "I think the GP's here, and the receptionists are brilliant, they are so helpful and friendly, nothing is too much trouble and they are so patient with people".

Patient records were well maintained and gave a comprehensive, current record of care and treatment.

Emergency equipment was available. Emergency drugs were available in the GP's consultation room and treatment room. We noted staff had been trained in basic life support.

Patients were able to access a range of services via the GP's which included: smoking cessation, nutrition advice from the dietician and the stroke team.

The practice had a wide range of policies, procedures and guidance in place for staff to access, which supported the safe management of the service. Systems had been implemented to identify, assess and manage risks related to the service.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Walmsley – Crompton Health Centre on 8 July 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the July 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Walmsley – Crompton Health Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We carried out a further announced comprehensive inspection at Walmsley – Crompton Health Centre on 14 July 2017. This inspection was to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulation that we identified in our previous inspection on 8 July 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements. We found the improvements had been made and the practice is now rated as good in all domains.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• The provider should have assurance that the defibrillator for the building is available and ready for use.

• The provider should set up a programme of audits.

• The practice should arrange for staff to start the on-line training package that they have signed up to.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice