Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Middleport Medical Centre on 26 September 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Middleport Medical Centre was previously registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a limited company with the provider, Network Healthcare Solutions. A change of provider took place in April 2016. The new provider is General Medical Services Limited. We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Middleport Medical Centre under the previous provider on 12 December 2014 and rated the practice as good. The report for the inspection carried out on 12 December 2014 can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Middleport Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.

• The practice had effectively worked with the pain management clinic to reduce and manage the high prescribing rate of two medicines that had the potential for misuse.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance and had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• The practice maintained appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
• Appropriate recruitment checks had been undertaken prior to employment although satisfactory information about any physical or mental health conditions relevant to a person’s ability to carry out their role had not been obtained for all staff.
• Results from the national GP patient survey published in July 2017 showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and the practice proactively acted on complaints posted on the national website, NHS Choices. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients found it easy to make an appointment 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 the management team.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice had effectively worked with the pain management clinic to reduce and manage the high prescribing rate of two medicines that had the potential for misuse.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Prior to employment, obtain satisfactory information about any physical or mental health conditions relevant to a person’s ability to carry out their role.

• Update the cold chain policy to provide clear guidance for staff on the safe transportation and administration of vaccines to patients living in care homes.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice