Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Waltham Road Medical Centre on 11 December 2014. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for older people, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia)
It required improvement for providing safe services and for services for people with long-term conditions.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. However patients with some long-term conditions were not being reviewed as often as best practice suggested. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
- 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.
There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
Importantly the provider must:
- Ensure that all staff have a common understanding of how to identify and report a significant event.
In addition the provider should:
- Review how patients with long-term conditions are managed to ensure that more patients receive the health reviews and tests that the guidance for management of their condition indicates.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice