Archived: Old Road West Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Old Road West Surgery on 28 October 2015. 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 there was an effective system for reporting and recording significant events.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• 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 generally 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.

• Most risks to patients were assessed and well managed, although some risks in relation to the premises were not formally recorded and assessed and not all recruitment checks for staff had been undertaken.

• 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.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider must:

• Ensure that the fire safety arrangements for the premises include processes and systems to identify, record, assess, monitor and address all identified risks.

• Ensure that the arrangements for managing medicines include a process to monitor the allocation of blank prescription forms throughout the practice.

• Ensure that the arrangements for the management of infection prevention and control include systems and processes to identify, record, assess, monitor and address all identified risks.

• Ensure recruitment arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.

The provider should:

• Review the appraisal arrangements for nurses in relation to their clinical roles.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice