Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The GP Suite on 10 August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and report incidents and near misses.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

• Outcomes for patients who use services were good.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.

• Staff were consistent and proactive in supporting patients to live healthier lives through a targeted approach to health promotion. Information was provided to patients to help them understand the care and treatment available

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• The practice had a system in place for handling complaints and concerns and responded quickly to any complaints.

• Patients said they were able to get an appointment with a GP when they needed one, 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 sought feedback from staff and patients, which they acted on.

• Staff throughout the practice worked well together as a team and they received opportunities for development.

• The practice was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review the system in place for the checking and reading of hospital discharge and letters from out of hours services.

• Review the signs in place in the practice regarding oxygen to reflect which cylinders are in use.

• Review the stock of emergency medicines and risk assess the medicines held in the doctor’s bags.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spent time in the practice observing how it worked and speaking to patients, staff and stakeholders. Patients told us they were treated with care and respect and we saw positive exchanges between patients and staff. One person said, “They’re really good doctors, I wouldn’t change ever.” They told us their views were listened to and that it met their needs. Patients we spoke with told us they could get an appointment easily and the reception staff were “Excellent.” They told us they felt safe when they visited the surgery. Staff we spoke with understood safeguarding procedures.

We saw the practice actively sought the views of patients through comments boxes and the patient participation group, and that changes to the service had been implemented as a result of the feedback.

We saw the practice was up to date with infection control policies and procedures and when we spoke with staff they had a clear understanding how to reduce the risk of cross infection. The surgery was clean and well maintained.

Staff were provided with support, guidance and training to make sure they were able to carry out their role safely and monitored their performance to maintain the standards.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare. We saw that the general practitioners were following national guidance as well as local Clinical Commissioning Group guidelines to make sure they were using best practice guidance.