Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on Wednesday 1 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 13 April 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

The full comprehensive report on the April 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Loach & Partners on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Overall the practice is now rated as Good.

At our previous inspection, we found that the practice had not ensured that:

• Following reports of safety incidents, reviews or investigations were thorough, recorded properly, discussed and lessons learned to support improvement were cascaded to the relevant staff.
• Practice policies were up to date such as for safeguarding and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
• Water temperature checks were completed as recommended by a Legionella risk assessment that had been completed.

Our key findings at the inspection on 1 February 2017 were as follows:

• The practice now ensured that following reports of safety incidents, reviews or investigations are thorough, recorded properly, discussed and lessons learned to support improvement are cascaded to the relevant staff.
• Practice policies such as for safeguarding and Disclosure and Barring Service checks have been reviewed and updated.
• Water temperature checks were completed as recommended by the Legionella risk assessment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Loach and Partners also known as Beech Grove surgery on 13 April 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had 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.

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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.
• Although risks to patients who used services were assessed, the systems and processes to address these risks were not implemented well enough to ensure patients were kept safe.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure that following reports of safety incidents, reviews or investigations are thorough enough, recorded properly, discussed and lessons learned to support improvement are cascaded to the relevant staff.

• Update practice policies such as for safeguarding and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

• Ensure water temperature checks are completed as recommended by the Legionella risk assessment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice