Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Island Medical Centre on 9 January 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice had undertaken a legionella risk assessment but had not acted on a recommendation for staff training.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Significant events and complaints were shared between all practices within the Hurley Group (of which Island Medical Centre was a member) to provide wider staff learning.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Undertake staff legionella training as outlined in the legionella test carried out in November 2016.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice