Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Northolme Practice on 17 March 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically we rated the practice as good in providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care for all of the population groups it serves.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a preferred GP, there was continuity of care and urgent appointments were available the same day.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Complaints were addressed in a timely manner and the practice endeavoured to resolve complaints to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

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

The provider should:

• Ensure that records are available to show what training staff had and when, so

  to enable the practice as to monitor the training needs of staff in general

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice