Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Larkside Practice on 24 March 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 in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients said they were happy with the care they received and thought staff were friendly, helpful and caring. Patients commented that they felt they had enough time with the GPs and they were involved in their care and treatment options.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said there was sometimes a delay in making an appointment with a GP of choice but 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice provided services to homeless and hard to reach people by working, once a week, with a Luton based charity called New Opportunities And Horizons (NOAH) that offered support to people struggling against homelessness and exclusion. They saw patients living rough on the street that needed to see a GP and who may need referral to secondary care.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Carry out regular fire drills.

• Keep documentation of the monthly checks of the oxygen cylinders.

• Display notices in the practice to advise chaperones are available.

• Continue to monitor patient feedback regarding access to services.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice