Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dalton Terrace Surgery on 3 November 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and any decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• There were appointments available on the day of inspection. We were told there was always continuity of care, and urgent appointments were available the same day, every day.
• The practice had good facilities however there were some building refurbishments required identified on the day. The practice was equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• Each GP had a personal patient list. Patients were known by their GP, and their care co-ordinated in an efficient and effective way to ensure continuity of care. When GPs were away a comprehensive handover was provided to the duty doctor.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice