Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Longroyde Surgery on 28 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• The practice had an open and transparent approach to safety. There was an effective system in place for reporting, recording and reviewing 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 consistently said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were treated as partners in planning their care and making decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to access the surgery by telephone. They found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP. This meant there was continuity of care. Urgent appointments were available the same day. Routine appointments could be booked up to 12 weeks in advance
• The practice had some limitations with regards to space. However they made good use of the facilities available to them. They were 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 areas of outstanding practice:

• The practice was proactive in identifying carers on their practice list. At the time of our visit 4% of their patients had been identified as unpaid carers. Calderdale Carers offered additional support and information to this group of patients

• Patient satisfaction survey results consistently rated the practice higher than local and national averages with respect to access to appointments and all aspects of care provided by the practice. On the day of our inspection we received overwhelmingly positive comments from patients who spoke with us in person, as well as those patients who had completed comment cards prior to our visit.

• The practice had systems in place which enabled them to achieve 100% attendance for 6-8 week medical checks for new babies.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice