Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

In December 2015 a comprehensive inspection of Rush Hill Surgery, Bath was conducted, during that inspection we found concerns related to the management of blank prescription security and the systems to monitor this risk. The report setting out the findings of the inspection was published in March 2016. Following the inspection the practice sent us an action plan detailing how they would improve on the areas of concern.

We carried out an announced focused inspection of Rush Hill Surgery on 9 June 2016 to ensure the changes the practice told us they would make had been implemented and to apply an updated rating.

We found the practice had made significant improvement since our last inspection on 17 December 2015. We have re-rated the practice overall as good. Specifically, they had made improvements to the provision of safe services. The ratings for the practice have been updated to reflect our findings.

At this inspection we found:

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

• Systems were in place to monitor and ensure the security of blank prescriptions.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Rush Hill Surgery on 17 December 2015. 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 and responded to 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 kindness, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• 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.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The GPs attended safeguarding meetings and the lead GP attended meetings with external agencies and always provided reports where necessary for other agencies. The lead GP also ran an annual training events for staff to update on safeguarding issues, the Mental Capacity Act and other related topics such as female genital mutilation.

The area where the provider must make improvements are:

Ensure the system for handling, storing and recording details of blank prescriptions be reviewed and monitored.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We reviewed the information available to us about Rush Hill Surgery on 12 June 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.