Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Springfield Surgery on 24 May 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

• The practice had a strong vision, which put working with patients to ensure high quality care and treatment as its top priority.
• The strategy to deliver this vision had been produced with stakeholders and was regularly reviewed and discussed with staff.
• 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 GP provider ensured all staff were supported to develop their skills and abilities and delegated specific roles and responsibilities. As a result, all business and clinical matters were delivered effectively at the practice.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety. The practice had an inclusive approach and each member of the staff team had responsibility implementing systematic checks to ensure patients received safe and timely care.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice was committed to evidence based practice to improve the quality of care and treatment. Clinical auditing was based on up to date guidance and research to reflect innovation and the changing clinical needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and 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. The practice offered emergency open access surgeries each morning alongside bookable appointments.
• The practice had a very active patient participation group (PPG) who were supported and encouraged by the practice to participate in the development and improvement of the practice.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

We saw areas of outstanding practice including:

• The practice supported and facilitated the PPG to meet at regular intervals to discuss the practice developments. The PPG had facilitated for almost one year weekly Walking for Health walks, which were open to all patients. The PPG also held regular Healthy Hazel Grove open day events for all people in the community. Previous event themes including raising awareness of diabetes, healthy lifestyles and the focus for the event planned for June 2017 was social isolation.
• There were thorough governance arrangements in place with dedicated staff roles and framework where a weekly review of GP referrals and the needs of patients discharged from hospital was undertaken. This ensured patients received person centred, safe and effective care and promoted continuous learning and development within both clinical and administration teams.
• The GP provider had created health care information videos which were played in the practice waiting room. For example one of these targeted the older population groups to raise awareness and encourage uptake of the cancer bowel screening test.
• The practice was a participating member of the Stockport Foodbank and issued food vouchers to patients who were in need of this support.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice