Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Stirchley Medical Practice on 14 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice operated a named GP patient list, providing continuity of care for patients. Patients were offered appointments with their usual GP for ongoing issues.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Patients told us they were able to get an urgent appointment through the triage system.
• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• 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.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• 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 an area of outstanding practice:

• The practice recognised that the practice population was younger than average and the need to actively manage the care of young people and families, especially in relation to contraception and unplanned pregnancies. The practice offered same day access was offered for emergency contraception and a card system was used to identify the reason for the visit and facilitate easy access. Condoms were also provided by the practice. The number of teenage pregnancies had fallen from 23 in 2013 to 15 in 2015.

There are areas of practice where the provider should make improvements.

The provider should:

• Make patients aware that translation services are available.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice