Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr B Parsons & Partners on 19 September 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.
• 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.
• 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 should make improvement are:

Ensure that regular infection control audits take place and are recorded.

Ensure that staff are fully trained before performing Chaperone duties.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with nine patients, five members of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) two Practice Nurses, administrative staff, lead GP partner and members of the management team. Patients were complimentary about all the staff and the services provided. One patient told us “the staff are very friendly and helpful. This is a popular surgery.” Another said “the staff are helpful and I find them very professional.” “The GP referred me to the hospital for a specialist consultant appointment which was good.”

One patient said "I don't mind waiting because the reception staff will tell me if the GP is running late. I am not often kept waiting long". Staff interactions with patients were respectful and appropriate. Patients using the service were treated with respect and involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. The provider took proper steps to ensure that patients were protected against the risks of receiving care or treatment that was inappropriate or unsafe.

Patients who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. Patients were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed.

The provider followed a full recruitment process for staff before they were employed to work with patients. They had an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service and others.