Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Dr Counsell & Partners for one area within the key question safe. We found the practice to be good in providing safe services. Overall the practice is rated as good.

The practice was previously inspected on 10 November 2015. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, one area was identified as requiring improvement because the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time.

Regulation 19 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Fit and proper persons employed:

• The provider did not carry out a risk assessment in relation to the need to (or not to) conduct DBS checks on non clinical staff. The provider did not assess the different responsibilities and activities of staff to determine if they were eligible for a DBS check. Where the decision is made not to carry out a DBS check on staff, the provider should be able to give a clear rationale as to why.

The practice has submitted to CQC, a range of documents which demonstrate they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Dr Counsell & Partners for one area within the key question safe. We found the practice to be good in providing safe services. Overall the practice is rated as good.

The practice was previously inspected on 10 November 2015. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, one area was identified as requiring improvement because the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time.

Regulation 19 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Fit and proper persons employed:

• The provider did not carry out a risk assessment in relation to the need to (or not to) conduct DBS checks on non clinical staff. The provider did not assess the different responsibilities and activities of staff to determine if they were eligible for a DBS check. Where the decision is made not to carry out a DBS check on staff, the provider should be able to give a clear rationale as to why.

The practice has submitted to CQC, a range of documents which demonstrate they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

On the day of the inspection we were only able to speak to two patients. For some of the patients attending the morning surgery English was not their first language or for cultural reasons they were not happy to talk to us. The patients we spoke with spoke positively about the practice and commented that they were happy with the care they received. Comments included “this is a good practice”, “wouldn't want to change my doctor”, “they talk everything through with you ok ”

We saw that the practice rooms were on the ground floor with adequate access for people with limited mobility. The practice was clean with ample seating for patients. The practice provided patients with information about the services available through leaflets available in the waiting area.The practice leaflet provided patents with information about how to raise a concern or complaint.

The practice had electronic patient records in place to record the contact patients had with the service.Consent was recorded in the electronic notes when any minor surgical procedure had been carried out.

Procedures where in place documenting communication processes and information exchange with other healthcare professionals and services. This meant that the care of the people who use the service was coordinated.The practice had an up to date recruitment policy in place. The practice had a range of policies and procedures in place which supported the safe running of the service.