Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Duncan Street Primary Care Partnership on 1 September 2016. Overall, the practice is rated as good with requires improvement in providing a safe service.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. Learning was shared with staff and reported to external agencies when required.
• Required recruitment checks had been made before staff were employed to work at the practice.
• Effective systems were in place to mitigate risks to patients who took high risk medicines.
• A training matrix and policy was in place to monitor that all staff were up to date with their training needs and received regular appraisals.
• Patients said they found it difficult to get through to the practice by telephone. The practice had put systems in place to address this. Urgent appointments were available the same day with the on call GP.
• Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive.
• The practice engaged with the local community to support the self-management of patients with long-term conditions. For example, the practice invited patients to take part in educational and lifestyle sessions held at a local temple.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• The practice actively managed, reviewed and responded to complaints and made improvements based on the outcome.

• The practice had a strong culture for education and learning.

• The practice had visible clinical and managerial leadership.

• Governance and audit arrangements were comprehensive and effective.

There were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:

• Continue pro-actively identifying carers and establishing what support they need.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice