11 December 2017
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
This practice is rated as Requires improvement overall. (Previous inspection June 2016 – Good with requires improvement for the Safe domain)
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Requires improvement
Are services effective? – Requires improvement
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? - Requires improvement
As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:
Older People – Requires improvement
People with long-term conditions – Requires improvement
Families, children and young people – Requires improvement
Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Requires improvement
People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Requires improvement
People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Requires improvement
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Ehab Amin on 11 December 2017 as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
- We found some safety systems and processes were not in place or had weaknesses.
- The practice did not have a system to record when action was taken following the receipt of national safety alerts.
- The practice did not have an effective system to identify or monitor vulnerable patients.
- We found there was a lack of evidence of records of mandatory training such as safeguarding, basic life support and infection control.
- Some staff were performing duties that they did not have the qualifications, competence, skills or experience which was necessary for the work performed by them.
- The practice reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of some of the care it provided.
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
The areas where the provider must make improvements are:-
- Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
- Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out the duties.
- Ensure staff have the qualifications, competence, skills and experience necessary for the work to be performed by them.
- Ensure arrangements are in place for the safe management of medicines.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Consider providing an induction pack relevant to their role for temporary and new staff.
- Undertake infection prevention and control audits annually.
- Review arrangements for clinical cover during staff absence.
- Review arrangements for patients making complaints and compliments.
- Review the system to ensure that patients who are vulnerable or subject to safeguarding issues are highlighted to all staff and that the system is robust and monitored.
- Review arrangements for the assessment, support and care of older patients who are frail or may be vulnerable.
- Review the arrangements for the follow up on older patients discharged from hospital to ensure their care plans and prescriptions are updated to reflect any extra or changed needs.
- Consider how to improve care of patients with diabetes.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice