Cornerways Medical Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cornerways Medical Centre on 4 July 2017. The overall rating for the practice was good. However the rating for the well-led section was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the July 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cornerways Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 11 December 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 4 July 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice remains rated as good overall and is now rated good in the section for well-led.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Governance arrangements had improved in relation to health and safety processes and staff training.

• The provider had reviewed their complaints process since the last inspection and the correspondence sent to patients now clearly explained the guidance for further action if required.

• The significant events process had been reviewed and a new computer system has been installed that supported the reporting and learning of all events in a timely manner.

• The practice had increased the levels of nursing staff in order to be able to increase the quality and quantity of health checks for all population groups, with particular reference to those with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. Since the last inspection the practice had employed one new practice nurse so that there were now four practice nurses. There were also now three health care assistants that could help undertake checks.

• The practice website was regularly updated, with information for all patients on services provided at the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cornerways Medical Centre on 21 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cornerways Medical centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced comprehensive inspection on 4 July 2017 to check the practice had made the required improvements.The key questions are now rated as good for safe, effective, caring and responsive and requires improvement for the well-led domain. Overall the practice is now 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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of carrying out and recording checks to reduce the risk of legionella infection.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• 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.
• Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice was proactive at offering a range of appointment lengths and types to meet patient’s needs.
• 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.
• We found there were still gaps in the training staff needed to undertake their roles. For example, not all staff had received training in fire safety and infection prevention control.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

There continue to be areas where the provider must make improvement:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care

In addition, there are areas where the provider should make improvement:

• Review the responses to complaints to ensure they are consistently in line with national guidance.
• Review the process for reporting appropriate significant events to external organisations in order to improve wider learning.
• Review the practice website regularly to ensure it contains up to date information for patients.
• Review arrangements for conducting health checks for vulnerable groups, such as patients with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice