Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Horsmans Place Partnership on 28 September 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 for reporting and recording significant events, and learning from these was discussed, shared and embedded at the practice.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including an infection control audit with identified actions and the date these were achieved.
• Medicines were well managed and organised within the practice.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained and had received updates to training to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• The practice provided a personal list system for patients, which meant that patients had their own GP who would see them unless they required an emergency appointment.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect, and 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, and the practice was open and transparent in responding to these.

• 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. However, the response to the GP patient survey rated the practice lower than the CCG and national averages for being able to get through on the telephone to make an appointment. The practice had an action plan to address this.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. It had been refurbished to increase accessibility for patients with reduced mobility and for those with babies and small children.

• 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.
• The patient participation group (PPG) was active at the practice and improvements were made as a result of their input, reflecting the patient voice.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Continue to address and take action on areas below the local and national average as identified by the GP Patient Survey.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice