We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Saltscar Surgery on 9 January 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

• what we found when we inspected
• information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
• information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as requires improvement overall, and good for all population groups.

We found that:

The practice needed to make improvements to some systems that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.

Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.

Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.

The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.

The way the practice was led and managed needed improvement, in order to deliver high-quality, person-centre care.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out this comprehensive inspection on 9 April 2015.

Overall, we rated this practice as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, reviewed and addressed.
• The practice provided a good standard of care, led by current best practice guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect.
• The buildings were clean.
• The practice provided effective care and support to people in vulnerable circumstances, such as those with dementia or learning difficulties.
• The practice had an active Patient Participation Group who worked collaboratively with the practice to improve services and information for patients.

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

In addition the provider should:

• Ensure that all risks to patients who used services were assessed and monitored to ensure patients were kept safe. This should include ensuring that legionella testing takes place and the medicines in the GP’s bags are within date and safe to use.
• Ensure that appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service and training records are kept up to date for all those working in the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice