Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Ghanshyam Patel Practice on the 13 December 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, with requires improvement for providing safe services. The full comprehensive report on the 13 December 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Ghanshyam Patel on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 8 August 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 16 December 2016 and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The provider had reviewed systems processes and practices to minimise risks to patient safety. For example a legionella risk assessment had been completed and fire drills and fire alarm checks were being performed. Staff had correctly labelled the sharps bins and weekly health and safety checks.

• Following this visit the provider submitted an environmental risk assessment completed on 10 August 2017 to the Commission.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance and records of actions taken in response to safety alerts kept.

• The process for recruitment checks had been updated and necessary pre-employment checks now undertaken.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider should continue to make improvements.

• The environmental risk assessment did not identify all the possible risks in the premises. The provider should  continue to ensure all premises and equipment used by the service provider is fit for use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Ghanshyam Patel Practice on the 13 December 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good, with requires improvement for providing safe services. The full comprehensive report on the 13 December 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Ghanshyam Patel on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 8 August 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 16 December 2016 and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The provider had reviewed systems processes and practices to minimise risks to patient safety. For example a legionella risk assessment had been completed and fire drills and fire alarm checks were being performed. Staff had correctly labelled the sharps bins and weekly health and safety checks.

• Following this visit the provider submitted an environmental risk assessment completed on 10 August 2017 to the Commission.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance and records of actions taken in response to safety alerts kept.

• The process for recruitment checks had been updated and necessary pre-employment checks now undertaken.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider should continue to make improvements.

• The environmental risk assessment did not identify all the possible risks in the premises. The provider should  continue to ensure all premises and equipment used by the service provider is fit for use.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We found that the practice had operated effective recruitment procedures to ensure that the applicant was of good character and had the qualifications, skills and experience which were necessary for the work to be performed.

The practice had protected people against the risk of unsafe care by ensuring that an effective system was in place to monitor the expiration of drugs.

All the patients told us that their privacy and dignity was always respected when attending the practice. Patients spoken with were very satisfied with the care, support and advice they had received. Patient’s comments included: “they (the staff) are very friendly and polite”, “I am treated as I would treat people”, “Dr Patel is very thorough and always makes sure everything is done properly”, “staff are brilliant, they really do look after you” and “you feel like you’re a person”.

We found patients were fully informed and involved in decisions relating to their treatment and care. Patients told us that the doctors and the nurse always explained things to them and that they were given the opportunity to discuss their treatment. One patient commented: “the doctor takes a lot of care explaining everything”.

All the staff spoken with were clear about what their role and responsibilities were and what action they would take if they saw or suspected any abuse.

We found that the practice did not have an appropriate standard of cleanliness and hygiene.

We found that the practice had not operated effective recruitment procedures to ensure that the applicant was of good character and had the qualifications, skills and experience which were necessary for the work to be performed.

The practice had not protected people against the risk of unsafe care by ensuring that an effective system was in place to monitor the expiration of drugs.