This practice is rated as Good overall.

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ironbridge Medical Practice in July 2015. The practice was rated as good overall. The full comprehensive report on the July 2015 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ironbridge Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ironbridge Medical Practice on the 12 November 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Some patients reported some difficulty with the practice’s appointment system within the CQC comment cards. The practices GP patient survey results however, were in line with local and national averages for questions relating to access to care and treatment.
• Patients responded positively regarding how easy it was to get through to the practice on the phone.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• The practice was a training practice and worked collaboratively with other practices within the locality.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ironbridge Medical Practice on 9 July 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, services. It was also good for providing services for older people; people with long-term conditions; families, children and young people; working age people; people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• 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 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.
• Patients told us they could usually get an appointment when they needed one, although they may have to wait for a pre bookable appointment with the specific GP. Urgent appointments were 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.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

• Maintain a log of significant events.
• Consider introducing a signing in and out system for medicines taken out of the practice.
• Introduce a system to check the GPs registration with their professional body is up to date.
• Complete the outstanding staff appraisals and continue to review annually.
• Publicise the assistance bell located near to the main entrance so patients are aware they can request assistance when accessing the building.
• Include the acknowledgement letter in the complaint record or record the date the letter was sent.
• Review complaints to identify any common themes or trends.
• Share the practice vision and values with staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice