Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Tottington Medical Practice for one area within the key question safe.

We now found the practice to be rated as good in providing safe services. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

The practice was previously inspected on 12 April 2016. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection, the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, one area was identified as requiring improvement, as the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time:

Regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment

The registered person did not ensure the safe storage of medicines. The temperature of the fridges that stored medicines was not monitored regularly.

During the inspection on 23 November 2016 the practice showed us evidence which demonstrated they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014.

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 Tottington Medical Centre on 12 April 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.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• Staff received regular training so they 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to get through to the practice to make an appointment with a named GP.
• 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:

• Fridge temperatures must be monitored regularly.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• A Disclosing and Barring Service check should be carried out for staff who act as chaperones or a risk assessment completed to demonstrate why this is not required.  While these checks had not yet been completed, we saw evidence that this issue was in the process of being addressed. 
• An infection control audit of the premises should be carried out.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice