12 May 2015
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ratby Surgery on 12 May 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing, well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for older people; patients with long term conditions; families children and young people; working age people and those recently retired; people experiencing poor mental health and people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. We found the practice to be requiring improvement in safe.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected 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, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and that 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.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to recruitment checks.
- 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.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
Importantly the provider must;
- Ensure that the recruitment policy is followed in all and that appropriate recruitment checks For example, proof of identification, references, qualifications, registration with the appropriate professional body and the appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
- Ensure that all staff receive an annual appraisal and that it is recorded.
- Ensure that a policy for the management, testing and investigation of legionella is implemented or that a risk assessment has taken place.
Importantly the provider should;
- All procedures and policies to be reviewed to ensure their relevance and current best practice.
- Ensure that clinical audits include a second cycle to complete the process.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice