Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at New Hall Surgery on 26 January 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 in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

• The practice responded and was engaged with notable local groups and stakeholders. For example the Alzheimer’s Society Pilot scheme, local care homes and leading on the confederation of six local practices.

• 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 said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Discussions with staff and feedback from patients’ demonstrated staff were highly motivated and were inspired to offer care that was kind, caring and supportive and that met the needs of the population.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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.

• Leadership was reflective at the practice and involved the whole team in a cohesive way, which provided strong and decisive decision making around patient care.

• Although already achieving high outcomes in a number of areas, the practice team wished to improve their services and the experience of patients. They actively explored ways in which to do this.

• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour. This means providers must be open and transparent with service users about their care and treatment, including when it goes wrong.

We saw some areas of outstanding practice including:

• A named GP was responsible for specialist dementia related conditions and spent a period of time working with local care homes to review patients with a dementia diagnosis; including, medication reviews, health checks and referrals. Feedback from four Care home managers was positive regarding this arrangement and they welcomed the direct support from the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice