This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 08/10/2014 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at North Swindon Practice on 11 April 2018, as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• Staff had lead roles that improved outcomes for patients such as a carers’ lead.
• The practice worked with an organisation that supported asylum seekers. It adapted its registration process to meet their needs.
• Patients with a diagnosis of autism could access two dedicated receptionists to ensure they received appropriate services.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• The provider should continue to make efforts to increase the programme coverage of women eligible to be screened for cervical cancer.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

North Swindon Practice is a GP practice situated in Swindon and has approximately 12,000 registered patients. North Swindon Practice operates from Home Ground Surgery in Haydon Wick, Swindon.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive visit on 8 October 2014. During our visit we spoke with a range of staff. These included GPs, nurses, reception and administrative staff and the practice manager. We also spoke with patients who used the practice and we reviewed comment cards where patients shared their views and experiences of treatment and care provided by staff.

Before visiting, we reviewed a range of information we held about the practice and asked other organisations to share what they knew. This included the Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS England and Healthwatch Swindon.

The overall rating for North Swindon Practice was  good. Our key findings were as follows:

• the practice  was safe for patients,
• effective in meeting their needs, caring towards them,
• responsive when things needed to change 
• well led.

The practice demonstrated how legislation and guidance had been followed to ensure that people were treated with respect and kindness in a safe environment.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements. 

The practice should:

• Ensure that all staff are aware they can complete significant event records themselves.

• Ensure vaccines are kept at the correct temperature and records of minimum and maximum temperatures are accurate.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice