Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Maple Practice on 19 October 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 for reporting and recording significant events and learning from these was discussed and shared at practice meetings.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including infection prevention and control, however, some fabric chairs in the shared waiting area were stained and there was no process in place to ensure they were appropriately cleaned.
• 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 responsibility for the care of patients at a care home with nursing and visited on a weekly basis.
• Data from the national GP patient survey rated the practice higher than the clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the national average for telephone access.
• The practice had good facilities and made good use of all available space 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:

• Review the cleaning schedule to help ensure regular deep cleaning or the replacement of the fabric chairs in the shared waiting area is carried out.
• Continue to develop a patient participation group.
• Continue to identify and support patients who are also carers.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice