Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Park Community Practice on 5 May 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• The practice was aligned with Calder Community Practice, situated in Todmorden. Patients were able to access services at either site. Park and Calder Community Practice was part of Locala, a social enterprise community interest company (CIC). All data relates to both practices collectively, unless specified otherwise.
• Locala had clear lines of accountability and governance with encompassed the whole organisation. Staff at the practice told us they felt supported by their immedicate managers, and by the organisation as a whole.
• The practice routinely sought feedback from staff and patients, and had a recently established patient participation group (PPG). We were given examples of how the practice had responded to patient comments and suggestions.
• We saw the practice had 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.
• 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.
• Clear guidance about how to complain was displayed in the practice and on the practice website.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP or nurse practitioner. Urgent appointments were available the same day when required.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

• Park Community Practice was open between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday. In addition the practice opened between 8am and 1pm on Saturday.

However there is an area where the practice needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

• Review the way carers are identified within the practice and develop systems to provide additional support to this group of patients.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice