Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Lockwood GP Surgery on 18 November 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.
• 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 provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Verbal complaints should be recorded.

• Continue to review policies and procedures to demonstrate these reflect the most current guidance.

• Review the induction process of new staff to demonstrate safeguarding and infection control training are undertaken and documented as soon as practicably possible.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice