Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out this comprehensive inspection on 16 February 2016.

Overall, we rated this practice as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice provided a good standard of care, led by current best practice guidelines. A programme of clinical audit was used to identify where patient outcomes could be improved.
• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns. Information about safety was monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
• The practice had comprehensive policies and procedures to govern activity, which were reviewed regularly.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Information was provided to help patients understand the care available to them.
• The practice was proactive in the promotion of good health and management of long term conditions. Staff communicated within multi-disciplinary teams to manage complex conditions.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. Staff felt confident in their roles and responsibilities.
• The practice worked with the Patient Participation Group (PPG) to listen to feedback and instigate change.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice had invested in a blood pressure machine and scales in reception for patients to use, with instructions, or support from staff. This could either opportunistically identify areas for concern, or patients attending for long term condition reviews could collect these results before their appointment, leaving more time to discuss their condition once they were with a member of clinical staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice