Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 15 October 2014.

The practice has a main surgery and two branch surgeries. We did not include the branch surgeries in this inspection.

We have rated this practice as ‘good’ overall. We found the practice to be ‘good’ in the safe domain, the effective, caring, responsive and well-led domains. We found the practice provided good care to older people; people with long term conditions; families, children and young people; the working age population and those recently retired; people in vulnerable circumstances and people experiencing poor mental health.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had clear and thorough systems to monitor safety. They ensured that any information arising from complaints or significant events was shared so that staff could learn them and improve the service for patients.

• The systems in place at the practice to manage medicines and to ensure infection control were clear, robust and thorough.

• Patients were positive about the care and treatment they received.

• The practice team understood the needs of their patient population. They offered appointments at times which were convenient to patients and they worked flexibly as a team to ensure patients’ health needs were met.

• The practice had created a ‘learning culture’ which involved all members of the practice team and ensured that patients continually benefitted from high levels of care and treatment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice