Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Princes Park Health Centre under the new ownership of the provider Brownlow Group Practice on 14 March 2017. The previous provider had been placed in Special Measures by CQC in August 2015 and they left the practice in March 2016. Brownlow Group Practice became interim providers in 2016 and was awarded the three year APMS contract in February 2017. The findings of our inspection carried out on 14 March 2017 was the practice was rated overall 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. New systems and processes had been put into place by the new provider. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. Significant events were investigated and action had been taken as a result of the learning from such events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety. For example, infection control practices were good and there were regular checks on the environment and on equipment used.
• 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.
• Feedback from patients about the care and treatment they received from clinicians was very positive. Patients told us they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and 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 there had been improvements made to the appointment system under the new provider. They now found it easier to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management since the new provider had taken over the practice. 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.
• External agencies and stakeholders described the quality improvements that had been made by the Brownlow Group Practice as interim and now permanent providers.

There were areas also where the provider should make improvement. The provider should:

• Continue to monitor and improve the cervical screening and childhood immunisations programmes to improve performance in these areas.

• Continue to develop and improve the number of clinical audits that have completed a two cycle process.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice