Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Fairfield PMS on 31 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.

• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

• 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.
• Risks to patients were well assessed and well managed in most areas. Some staff members had not received fire safety training but this training was received shortly after our inspection.

• Policies and risk assessments were implemented and available to all staff, but some had not been completed appropriately.

• 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.

• There was a programme of continuous audit including clinical audits where improvements had been made to patients’ outcomes.

• 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.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure all policies are updated and risk assessments are completed appropriately, and ensure new staff inductions include fire safety procedures.

• Ensure chaperones follow the practice’s chaperone policy by recording their actions on patients’ records.

• Continuously monitor patient feedback and make improvements, particularly in relation to accessing appointments, and ensure translation services available are advertised in a format patients can understand.

• Continuously monitor Quality and Outcomes Framework performance and make improvements.

• Review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the clinical system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to them.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice