Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr F Gupta’s Practice (known as Drighlington Medical Centre) on 14 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care for all of the population groups it serves.

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

• The practice complied with the requirements of the duty of candour. (The duty of candour is a set of specific legal requirements that providers of services must follow when things go wrong with care and treatment.)
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety. All staff were encouraged and supported to record any incidents using the electronic reporting system. There was evidence of good investigation, learning and sharing mechanisms in place.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• There were safeguarding systems in place to protect patients and staff from abuse.
• There was a clear leadership structure, staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities and told us the GPs and practice manager were accessible and supportive. There was evidence of an inclusive team approach to providing services and care for patients.
• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following local and national care pathways and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• The practice staff had a good understanding of the needs of their practice population and were flexible in their service delivery to meet patient demands; such as providing additional GP appointments or telephone consultations when required.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment. There was continuity of care and if urgent care was needed patients were seen on the same day as requested.
• Information regarding the services provided by the practice and how to make a complaint was readily available for patients.
• The practice sought patient views how improvements could be made to the service, through the use of patient surveys, the NHS Friends and Family Test and engagement with patients.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice