Frithwood Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 28 January 2016. During our inspection we found a breach of legal requirements relating to the management of medicines. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the legal requirements in relation to meet Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment.

We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met the legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements and should be read in conjunction with the full report. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Frithwood Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection on 28 January 2016 and they were meeting the regulation relating to the management of medicines that had previously been breached.

Specifically the practice was operating safe systems in relation to the management of medicines. This included:

• Ensuring the temperature of vaccine fridges were adequately recorded and monitored.
• Systems to monitor the use of handwritten prescription forms.
• Ensuring patient group directions were signed by a person authorised by the practice.
• In addition, the practice now ensures that internal management checks of controlled drugs are undertaken.

We have changed the rating for this practice to reflect these changes. The practice is now rated good for the provision of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services.

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 Frithwood Surgery on 28 January 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good, this includes all the population groups.

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 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.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw three area of outstanding practice:

• The practice employed a nurse who contacted and visited patients over the age of 75 to ensure that their health and social needs were being met.

• The practice had established a number of ways for remote patients to pick up their dispensed prescriptions.

• The practice worked with patient participation group in arranging health walks for patients.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure that there is adequate recording and monitoring of the vaccine fridge temperatures.

• Ensure all Patient Group Directions are signed locally and in date.

• Ensure there are systems in place to monitor the use of handwritten prescription pads.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Undertake internal management checks of Controlled Drugs.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice