This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 14/11/2014 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Usman Akbar on 6 June 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines and local and national priorities.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients told us they found the new telephone and appointment system easy to use and this had significantly improved their ability to access care when they needed it.
• There was a focus on continuous learning and a drive towards improvement at all levels of the organisation.

We saw areas of outstanding practice:

Unverified data for 2017/2018 showed that on the day of inspection 90% of eligible patients at the practice had attended for cervical screening in the last five years. Patients were contacted by the practice champion who encouraged them to attend, additional letters were sent on pink paper and appointments were offered with the practice nurse for patients to discuss the screening and talk through any concerns. The practice had also liaised with NHS England who were interested in sharing how the practice had achieved the results so that they could be shared with others.

The practice had increased their engagement with patients. A junior patients’ newsletter had been developed by the patient engagement lead to encourage younger patients to become involved in the practice. It included health tips, word searches and a competition.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Continue to review and improve the number of health checks offered to and accepted by carers.
• Review and improve their system for managing Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alerts.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection visit on 18 November 2014 and the overall rating for the practice was good. The inspection team found after analysing all of the evidence that the practice was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice provided good, safe, responsive and effective care for all population groups in the area it serves.

• All areas of the practice were visibly clean.

• Where incidents had been identified relating to safety, staff had been made aware of the outcome and action taken where appropriate, to keep patients and staff safe.

• Patients received care according to professional best practice clinical guidelines. The practice had regular information updates, which informed staff about new guidance to ensure they were up to date with best practice.

• The service was responsive and ensured patients received accessible, individual care, whilst respecting their needs and wishes.

• The service was well led and there were positive working relationships between staff and other healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of service.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice these included:

• The practice has commissioned the Pharmacy First Scheme for minor ailments to ease patient access to appointments. (Patients who do not pay for their prescriptions can visit the pharmacy with specific symptoms, such as conjunctivitis, and be offered advice and appropriate medicines. This is a free service to these patients).

• The practice is working with the local hospital to screen patients for Hepatitis B & C.
• The practice is opening on Saturday mornings during the winter months to help reduce hospital pressures.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice