Priory Medical Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Priory Medical Centre on 10 November 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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff were aware of their responsibilities in helping to safeguard and protect patients.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• The practice operated a personalised list for each GP to provide continuity of care.
• The practice worked well with multidisciplinary teams, including community services to plan and implement care for their patients.

• Data from the national GP patient survey published in July 2016 showed patients rated the practice higher than others for several aspects of care.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• The practice held regular staff and clinical meetings where learning was shared from significant events and complaints.

• 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 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice