Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is the report of findings from our inspection of Clifton Medical Practice.

We undertook a comprehensive inspection on 10 December 2014. We spoke with patients, staff and the practice management team. The inspection took place at the same time as other inspections of GP practices across the Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group.

The practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were;

• All staff understand and fulfil their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal incidents were maximised to support improvement. 
• The practice was using proactive methods to improve patient outcomes, it links with the Clinical Commissioning Group and other local providers to enhance services and share best practice.
• The practice had a clear shared vision across all staff.
• Complaints were sensitively handled and patients are kept informed of the outcome of their comments and complaints
• The practice was actively involved in both local and national initiatives to enhance and support the care they delivered to their patients.
• The appointment system was sensitive to the needs of the population groups the practice served.

We saw areas of outstanding practice including:

• The practice was actively involved in local and national initiatives to enhance the care offered to patients. They were proactive in trailing new ways of working to ensure they continued to meet the needs of the patients registered with the practice.

In addition the provider should:

• Standardise drugs carried in GP bags to ensure all GPs carry the same.
• Ensure all audit cycle processes are fully documented.
• Ensure all post into the practice is seen by the GPs and an audit trail is available of actions identified and completed.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice