Archived: NHS Yeovil Health Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at NHS Yeovil Health Centre on 18 January 2017. The overall rating for the practice was good; however, the practice was rated as requires improvement for the provision of safe services. The full comprehensive report on the January 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for NHS Yeovil Health Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk .

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 8 August 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection in January 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is rated as good, including for providing safe services.

Our key findings were as follows:

• There was a safe system in place for medicines management, in particular the security of blank prescription stationery.
• We saw evidence of improvements in the arrangements for breast and bowel cancer screening resulting in increased percentages of eligible patients being screened.

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 NHS Yeovil Health Centre on 18 January 2017. There were areas of safety which require improvement, however, overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice participated in a local quality and outcomes framework, Somerset Practice Quality Scheme (SPQS), rather than the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), to monitor practice performance and outcomes for patients. Quality and Outcomes Framework data for 2015/16 showed patient outcomes were at or above average compared to the national average.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined systems to minimise risks to patient safety. However, the arrangements for medicines management, including the system to ensure the security of blank prescriptions was not effective. The practice provided evidence that secure arrangements had been implemented within 48 hours of the inspection.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure there is a safe system in place for medicines management, including the security of blank prescription stationery.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Review arrangements for breast and bowel cancer screening to ensure eligible patients are screened.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice