Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Somerville Medical Centre on 16 June 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 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.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and to get 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 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 practice offered patients the service of a health trainer who gave free lifestyle assessment to see exactly what support could benefit them, including information about activities and courses to support them to a healthier lifestyle.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• All appropriate information about vulnerable children should be fully documented and shared appropriately with other agencies particularly when requested to do so.

• The GP locum pack should contain information about significant events that had changed systems, protocols or clinical care at the practice and also local guidelines such as safeguarding.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice