Archived: Summerfield Primary Care Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We had inspected the practice in March 2015 when the registered provider was Dr Salim. During the inspection we found the practice inadequate for providing a safe, effective and well-led service. It was also inadequate for providing services for the six population groups we reviewed. Improvements were also required for providing responsive and caring services. Overall the practice was rated as inadequate and placed into special measures. Following the inspection, due to the absence of the provider, a caretaking practice was put in place by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Subsequently Summerfield Primary Care Practice applied for registration in April 2016 and are now the registered provider.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Summerfield Primary Care Practice on 22 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement. However, the new leadership at Summerfield Care Practice had made significant changes since July 2016 under challenging circumstance. During the inspection there was evidence of a positive impact to the quality of care for patients and the process of continuous improvement was ongoing.

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. Improvements identified were actioned to improve service.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff were supported and 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 easy to understand. Practice had carried out an analysis of the process and had identified areas for further improvements.
• Patients had experienced some changes within the practice in the last 12-15 months. They told us that as a consequence the continuity of care had suffered. However, patients felt there was now more stability in the practice, the partners had a vision and strategy to further improve continuity of care.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• It was clear that one of the GP partners was at the centre of the improvement strategy in the practice. They had contributed to the development of systems and processes to improve service and were developing staff members so that this improvement could be sustained.
• 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.

However, there were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:

• The provider should continue with their efforts to recall patients for regular reviews and appropriate screening.

• The provider should continue with their efforts to identify and support patients who are carers.

• The provider should continue to review and act on the results of the 2016 national GP patient survey to improve patients’ experience of the service. This includes access to care and treatment, patients satisfaction on consultations with GPs and nurses and their involvement in planning and making decisions about their care and treatment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice