8 December 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Hastings Old Town Surgery on 08 December 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 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 evidence showed the practice responded quickly to issues raised.
- Patients said they found that they could make an appointment with a named GP, although not always at the time they preferred, 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.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
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To review and where necessary update the practice’s fire risk assessment on an annual basis.
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Implement actions to mitigate any risk from legionella identified within the practice.
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Ensure that plans for all staff to have an up to date appraisal are implemented.
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Where clinically appropriate to continue to improve the systems for the identification and review of patients with a diagnosis of dementia.
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Continue to regularly monitor the maximum and minimum temperatures of all fridges containing medicines to ensure that they remain within the recommended range.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice