Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Field Road Health Centre - DC Downward on 24 November 2015. 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 incidents and significant events.
• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
• Patients were treated with care, compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. They were not rushed at appointments and full explanations of their treatment were given. They valued their practice.

• Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they had no problems making an appointment and that there was continuity of care, with routine and 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.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and they should ensure:

• That safety alerts and subsequent actions are recorded effectively.

• That locum GPs undergo the same recruitment checks as employed staff or agency staff and information such as references, C.V. and qualifications is held.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about Field Road Health Centre - HS Downward on 12 April 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.