Archived: The Garden City Practice

We found that the provider had employed a new cleaning company and that this had led to a significant improvement in the way the surgeries were cleaned. The surgeries had also been subject to a deep clean and many items of equipment and furniture that presented a risk of infection had been removed. Staff had received infection control training and were confident in their use of appropriate safe techniques. Further training was also planned. The provider had improved their systems for checking the effectiveness of their infection control policy. This included the carrying out of an infection control audit and responding to the shortfalls that the audit identified.

We found that the provider had installed new, wall-mounted, lockable cabinets for the storage of medicines that did not require refrigeration. We also saw that medicines were tracked by means of a recording system that ensured they were within their expiry dates and safe to use.

We found that records were stored securely in a room at one of the surgeries that had been converted for that purpose. Summaries of the records of new patients were checked for accuracy at the point of their first visit with a doctor.

Information was displayed for people using both surgeries, including health promotion, access to support services, information about the practice and other services available, although this was limited at the Knightsfield surgery. Appointments could be made for all three surgeries in person, telephone, or via the internet by using the practice's website.

We spoke with six people during our inspection, who all spoke highly of services provided to them. We also spoke with staff who said they enjoyed working in the practice.

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual wishes. One person said, "I haven't been coming here for that long, but everything seems very well run.' Another told us, 'I am here quite often, particularly with my children. The staff are very helpful and friendly.'

We saw that both practices were untidy. There were areas that were unclean including some of the surgeries and places where medical equipment was stored.

We saw that there was a system to ensure repeat prescriptions were available promptly. However, we found medicines kept at the practice that were not stored safely.

Many of the staff had been employed for a number of years and were familiar with the practice. Staff were trained and supported through a variety of means including meetings and appraisals.

The practice had an electronic records system, which was used by all staff. Paper records received from other areas, when people changed practices, were not stored in a way that ensured that they were kept confidential.