17 January 2017
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs Sefton-Fiddian, Fuller, Adeney and Smith on 17 January 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- The practice was operating under severe pressure due to the inability to recruit a GP partner, and the long term absences of another GP partner and the practice manager. Nevertheless all staff remained committed to providing the highest possible standard of care to patients.
- There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system for reporting and recording significant events.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
- Staff had the skills and expertise to deliver effective care and treatment to patients in line with current evidence based guidance.
- Patients said that they were treated with kindness, dignity and courtesy and that clinical staff involved them in decisions about their care and 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 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.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
- Develop the staff training matrix and maximise opportunities for staff training.
- Monitor prescribing trends by repeating audits in order to check compliance with current prescribing guidelines. For example, the antibiotic audit.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice