Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

At our previous comprehensive inspection at Dr Allan & Partners in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire on 20 July 2016 we found a breach of regulations relating to the provision of effective services. The overall rating for the practice was good. Specifically, Dr Allan & Partners was rated good for providing safe, caring, responsive and well-led services. The practice was rated requires improvement for the provision of effective services. The full comprehensive report on the July 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Allan & Partners on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was carried out on 21 March 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection in July 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection and was now meeting the regulations that had previously been breached. We have amended the rating for this practice to reflect these changes. The practice is now rated good for the provision of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services. Furthermore, the practice had resolved the concerns related to the management of people with long term conditions, this population group rating is also now rated good. Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Specifically the practice had:

• Reviewed how patients were identified and supported to attend for yearly reviews and check-ups in relation to their medical conditions, medicines and to support improved patient outcomes.

• Shared actions and learning outcomes from significant events and complaints with all practice staff.

• Reviewed and formalised an ongoing programme of clinical audit. This included designated clinical audit meetings and the appointment of one the GPs as clinical audit lead.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Allan and Partners on the 20 July 2016. We found the practice requires improvement for effective services. 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. However, we found that the learning and actions from events and complaints were not shared with all staff.
• 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.
• 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns. However there was no documentation to share learning with all staff.
• 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 improvements are;

• Review how patients are identified and supported to attend for yearly reviews and check-ups in relation to their medical conditions, medicines and to support improved patient outcomes.

The areas where the provider should make improvements is:

• Ensure actions and learning outcomes from significant events and complaints are shared with all staff.

• Ensure an ongoing programme of clinical audit is established to demonstrate quality improvement relating to the outcomes for patients.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice