Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Silverdale Practice on 20 December 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• 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.
• Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their 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 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.
• 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 the requirements of the duty of candour.
• The practice had an overview of performance in relation to patient outcomes and took action to improve these. However, exception reporting was higher than average in relation to asthma and mental health indicators.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Review QOF exception reporting rates, particularly in relation to asthma and mental health performance.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice