Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of The Grove Surgery on 19 January 2016. A breach of legal requirements was found. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us and submitted an action plan outlining the actions they would take to meet legal requirements in relation to;

• Regulation 12 Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – safe care and treatment.

From the inspection on 19 January 2016, the practice were told they must:

• Ensure that patients’ medication is kept under review to minimise risks associated with taking medicines that require monitoring.

From the inspection on 19 January 2016, the practice were told they should:

• Risk assess stocks of emergency medicines kept to ensure they are suitable to enable the practice to respond appropriately to a medical emergency.

We undertook a focused inspection at The Grove Surgery on 23 August 2016 to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal standards and requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those areas found to be requiring improvement. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting 'all reports' link for The Grove Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

We found that on the 23 August 2016 the practice now had improved systems and we found the following key findings:

• Practice specific protocols and procedures had been developed to manage risks to patients taking medicines that require routine monitoring.
• Systems to ensure that patients taking these medicines were receiving appropriate and timely checks had been effectively implemented.
• Risk assessments in relation to emergency medicines had been undertaken and appropriate stocks of emergency medicines were kept.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Grove Surgery on 19 January 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 but not always actioned, such as those relating to the monitoring of patients taking medicines that require regular monitoring.
• Staff had 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.
• The practice engaged with the CCG to provide additional services to improve outcomes for patients.
• 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.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure that patients’ medication is kept under review to minimise risks associated with taking medicines that require monitoring.

In addition the provider should:

• Risk assess stocks of emergency medicines kept to ensure they are suitable to enable the practice to respond appropriately to a medical emergency.
• The practice should review and extend work to improve ease of access for patients requiring a non urgent appointment, including the extension of online services.
• Develop systems to oversee the safe management of blank prescription forms.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice