Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Hedges Medical Centre on 11 February 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.

• The practice had an active patient participation group (PPG) who met on a monthly basis. Members of the PPG delivered ‘social prescribing’ sessions twice a month in the practice giving advice to patients regarding social activities available to them within the local community with an aim to improve mental health and well-being.

• 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 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.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced inspection of The Hedges Medical Practice on 10 July 2014. This was a comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act (2008) as part of our regulatory functions.

Our key findings were as follows;

• Patients reported good access to the practice. Appointments, including those required out of normal working hours or in an emergency were available.

• Systems were in place to identify and respond to concerns about the safeguarding of adults and children. All staff demonstrated a good awareness of the processes.

• Systems were in place to maintain the appropriate standards of cleanliness and protect people from the risks of infection. The practice was clean.

• We saw patients receiving respectful treatment from staff. Patients felt that their privacy and dignity was respected by staff.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

• Ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for patients with a disability so that they can access all the practice accommodation.
• Ensure that telephone access is improved for patients so that they can always get through to the practice via the telephone.

Professor Steve Field

CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice