Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Stokesley Health Centre on16 November 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 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.

• There was evidence of quality improvement including clinical audit. Patients were supported to live healthier lives.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The nursing service provided by the practice to a local extra care housing scheme (Town Close) has significantly reduced emergency admissions, out of hours care and attendance at Accident and Emergency departments. For example, a comparison between April 2015 and April 2016 indicated that out of hours, Accident and Emergency visits and emergency admissions were reduced from six events to zero events at the Town Close facilty, following the implementation of primary care nurse support.

• Patients could always be seen by a GP from the practice on the same day, if the patient required this, even when all available appointment slots were taken.

The areas where the provider should make improvements:

• Non clinical staff should be offered an annual appraisal and the practice should document where these are declined.

• The provider should take steps to ensure that consultations cannot be overheard from the waiting area.

• Develop a written strategy and supporting business plan which outlines their vision and plan for the future.

• Develop a written consent policy.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice