Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs Walters, Leung, Gregson & Mallick on 19 May 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 had good facilities and 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.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice had recently conducted an audit into services for patients who have Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COPD) or who remain breathless despite previous interventions was carried out. The practice had worked with other healthcare professionals involved in carrying out tests and investigations for patients in order to make a diagnosis to patients and quickly determine the best treatment for them. The practice put together a ‘carousel clinic’ which allowed patients to undergo all the tests they required in one day at one location and then the team held a multi disciplinary discussion to put together an individual treatment plan together for the patient to identify the most appropriate course of treatment for managing their condition. The results of the audit for 101 patients also showed that there was a reduction in the use of steroid/antibiotic treatment, a reduction in out of hours calls, A&E admissions and hospital admissions. It also demonstrated that there had been a reduction in unscheduled GP visits. Following the audit, the practice has taken steps to upskill nursing staff to be able to specialise more in these conditions. The practice has shared knowledge with other practices in the local area.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice