We carried out a review of the data available to us about Dr Fatin Karam on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Dr Fatin Karam, you can give feedback on this service.
We carried out an announced focused inspection at Dr Fatin Karam, known locally as Fairfield Medical Centre on 18 October 2022.
Overall, the practice is rated as Good.
Safe - Good
Effective - Good
Caring - Good
Responsive - Good
Well-led – Good
Following our previous inspection in July 2016, the practice was rated Good overall and Requires Improvement for providing Safe services. This was because comprehensive emergency equipment was not available at the practice. Following the inspection we undertook further reviews of the service in November 2019 and September 2022.
At this inspection we carried over the ratings from the previous inspection for the Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led domains. The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Fatin Karam on our website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we carried out this inspection
This inspection was a focused follow-up of information without undertaking a site visit to follow up on:
How we carried out the inspection
Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently.
This inspection was carried out remotely which enabled us to review information requested from the provider. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.
Our findings
We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:
We have rated this practice as Good overall
We found that:
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.
Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA
Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Fatin Karam known locally as Fairfield Medical Centre on 8 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses.
Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, apart from those relating to the premises.
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.
Feedback from patients on the day of the inspection about their care was consistently and strongly positive. Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
Data showed that outcomes for patients at this practice were similar to outcomes for patients locally and nationally.
Information about services and how to complain was available for patients.
The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the patient participation group.
There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
The practice provided a range of enhanced services to meet the needs of the local population.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
Induction records should be completed for all new staff.
A risk assessment for the need to have oxygen and an automated defibrillator on site in an emergency should be undertaken. According to current external guidance and national standards this equipment should be in place in all practices.
Chief Inspector of General Practice
The practice had electronic records in place to accurately describe the contact patients had with the service and the actions taken to provide appropriate care and treatment.
The practice had an infection control policy and guidelines which had been reviewed in January 2013. It provided staff with important information regarding infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene, managing clinical waste and environmental hygiene
We were shown around the practice and observed it provided spacious waiting, reception and consultation/treatment rooms. We observed good signage to help patients find their way around. Car parking was available nearby.
We saw the results of the 2012 patient survey and looked at feedback forms from February and March 2013. The practice had acted upon patients' comments about waiting times for an appointment by making more 'on the same day' appointments available, expanding telephone consultations and having extended hours one day each week.
Records showed the results of audits were discussed at monthly practice meetings and changes were made to how the service was run and the practice's polices and procedures.