Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Grove Medical Practice on 1 November 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. Monthly meetings took place which included discussions about significant events and shared learning.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. A legionella risk assessment had been completed in March 2016 and we saw evidence that regular checks took place. Portable appliance testing had been completed in January 2016 and was planned for completion annually.
• The practice held quarterly safeguarding meetings and invited all clinical staff, team leaders, health visitors and school nurses to attend.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with 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 available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• The practice did not have systems in place to identify military veterans and ensure their priority access to secondary care in line with the national Armed Forces Covenant. The practice introduced a military veteran’s policy and protocol to address this immediately after the inspection.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and 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 in place and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on. The practice was undergoing a merger with a neighbouring practice planned for completion in 2017 to help provide greater flexibility of services provided.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The area where the provider should make improvements;

The practice should ensure that all nursing staff and any staff whose role involves chaperone duties should receive a disclosure barring service check (DBS). The practice manager told us that during the forthcoming merger with a nearby practice, all staff would receive a DBS check, including chaperones and nursing staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice