Archived: Drs Passi and Handa

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Drs Passi and Handa (Leicester Street Medical Centre) on 9 December 2014. The providers also have a branch surgery which is Owen Road Medical Centre but we did not inspect the branch surgery as part of our visit. We found the practice was good in providing care that was effective, caring and responsive but required improvement for effective and well-led. The overall rating for the practice is requires improvement.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had some arrangements in place to ensure patients received a safe service.

• Patient care was provided by staff who had received appropriate training. The practice worked with other health and care providers to deliver co-ordinated care.

• Feedback from patients told us that they were treated with dignity and respect and that staff were friendly and helpful.

• Action had been taken to improve access to appointments. Information and feedback from patients was used to deliver service improvement

• We found the practice was organised operationally and staff understood their roles to deliver a satisfactory service.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

• Ensure that robust systems and governance arrangements are put in place to protect patients from unsafe care and deliver service improvement.

The provider should:

• Implement a consistent system for ensuring appropriate clinical accountability around repeat prescribing.

• The practice should ensure staff have appropriate working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).

• The practice should ensure audits complete their full audit cycle in order to check any changes have led to improvements in patient care.

• The practice should ensure patients that are unable to produce documentation have access to a GP and staff are aware of the process to follow in that event.

• Establish clear lines of accountability so that staff are aware of whom they should approach if there any issues or concerns in the practice.

• Ensure vision and values for the practice are developed and shared with staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice