Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Moreton Medical Centre on 23 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• The practice was situated in converted residential premises and was clean and had good facilities including disabled access, translation services and a hearing loop.

• Patient survey information and comments reviewed showed comparable satisfaction rates with local and national averages with regards to making appointments and being able to get through to the practice on the telephone.

• There were systems in place to mitigate safety risks including analysing significant events and safeguarding. There were good use of risk assessments and monitoring for the overarching health and safety aspects of the practice.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current legislation.

• 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. The practice sought patient views about improvements that could be made to the service; including having a patient participation group (PPG) and acted, where possible, on feedback.

• Staff worked well together as a team and all felt supported to carry out their roles.

We saw elements of outstanding practice:

• Patients were given blood pressure and pulse checks at their flu vaccination appointments to increase detection of atrial fibrillation.

• Patients with mental health needs were supported by the practice in a holistic manner. Clinicians identified patients who were extremely vulnerable and worked with other agencies to ensure changes in clinicians were managed in a supportive and therapeutic manner.

However, the practice should:

• Improve safety netting systems in place for urgent referrals to ensure patients have been seen.

• Provide the correct alternative contact information for patients to raise complaints

• Update risk assessments for what is required for use of emergency medications within the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice