Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a comprehensive inspection as part of our inspection programme at the practice of New Islington Medical Practice on 6 June 2017 which was rated as requires improvement in the safe domain of the report and overall as good. The key questions were rated as:

Safe – requires improvement

Effective – good

Caring – good

Responsive – good

Well led – good

We carried out a focused follow up desk based inspection on 20 February 2018 where we found the practice had made significant improvements. The full comprehensive report for this inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for New Islington Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 20 February 2018 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 6 June 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at New Islington Medical Practice on 6 June 2017. 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• There was no clear structure or support within the practice for maintaining infection control.
• Non clinical staff were adding, amending or removing hospital discharge medicines with no clear clinical checks in place.
• Results from the national GP patient survey 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with 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 good facilities 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Make all staff aware of the business continuity plan.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice