Archived: Fountains Medical Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 19th January 2016. A breach of legal requirements was found. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach. We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Fountains Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Our key findings were as follows:

• Action had been taken to ensure the recruitment procedures were improved and the required information in respect of workers was obtained. A policy for periodically renewing DBS checks was not in place.

• Action had been taken to address the areas identified at the last inspection where improvements should be made.

The area where the provider should make improvements is:

• A policy for periodically renewing DBS checks should be put in place.

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 Fountains Medical Practice on 19th January 2016.

Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report safety incidents. Staff spoken with were aware of procedures for safeguarding patients from the risk of abuse.
• There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety, for example, infection control procedures, management of medicines and the management of staffing levels.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.

• Patients were very positive about the care they received from the practice. They commented that they were treated with respect and dignity and that staff were caring, supportive and helpful.

• Services were planned and delivered to take into account the needs of different patient groups.

• Access to the service was monitored to ensure it met the needs of patients. Patients reported satisfaction with opening hours and said they were able to get an appointment when one was needed.

• Information about how to complain was available. There was a system in place to manage complaints.

• There were systems in place to monitor and improve quality and identify risk.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

• The lead GP for the practice had developed a number of protocols to enhance patient care. They had developed a formula for prescribing antiviral and antibiotic medication in an influenza epidemic. This approach had been adopted by Primary Care Cheshire for use by all services within the Chester and Cheshire West area.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements:

• The provider must ensure that there is a record of the required recruitment information to confirm the suitability of staff employed.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Document reviews of significant events to demonstrate that actions identified have been implemented.

• Ensure nurses and the health care assistant have undertaken safeguarding children training at Level 2 which is recommended by the Royal College of Nursing.

• Review the system of identifying staff training needed and undertaken to assist in monitoring and planning for the training needs of staff.

• Establish a system for regular, formal appraisal of staff.

• Retain all certificates of staff training to demonstrate the training staff have received.

• Establish a system for regular staff meetings and document these to demonstrate the issues discussed, for example, significant events.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice