Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Roundwell Medical Centre on 2 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• There was 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.
• Information about services and how to complain was accessible and easy to understand.
• 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 and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The area where the provider should make an improvement is:

• Ensure that patient feedback continues to be monitored to identify areas for improvement.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

During our visit we spoke with 11 people who were using the service and to several relatives who were accompanying people to the surgery. We also accompanied a GP when they visited and provided treatment to a person in their own home.

We found that care had been planned and provided in a person centre manner. We saw this when observing treatment being given and when nurses and doctors greeted people and spoke to them. We found that medical records were consistently detailed and had included other health and social care professional’s notes where this was appropriate.

People were kept safe from abuse by staff trained in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from harm. Policies and procedures and staff knowledge and training assured us that children and vulnerable were appropriately protected from abuse because the provider had taken suitable action to make this happen.

The premises were specifically designed for the collective activities of the centre. GPs, nurse and administrative staff had generous working areas that were well equipped and designed specifically for a GP practice. We saw that the premises were visibly clean and had been well maintained.