Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Newland Health Centre on 30 May 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. However, reviews and investigations were not thorough enough.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to recruitment checks.
• 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.
• 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.

• Data showed patient outcomes were low compared to the national average. The practice had a high proportion of patients who were aged 18-24 in their practice population and a much smaller proportion of patients with long term conditions compared to local and national averages. Patients who had a long term condition, for example asthma, tended to miss appointments for reviews as they were only resident during term time, which led to data appearing low.

• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Most 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 should make improvement are:

• Ensure recruitment arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.

• Carry out clinical audits and re-audits to improve patient outcomes.
• Improve the identification, analysis, action plans and staff learning from significant events.
• Implement a system to monitor and act upon uncollected prescriptions.
• Implement regular fire alarm testing.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice