Archived: Oxford Road Medical Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Oxford Road Medical Centre for one area only, governance arrangements within the key question Well-led.

We found the practice to be good in providing Well-led services. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Oxford Road Medical Centre was inspected on 1March 2016. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection, the practice was rated ‘good’ overall. However, within the key question Well-led, governance arrangements were identified as ‘requires improvement’, as the practice was not meeting the legislation in place at that time; Regulation 17(2)(d) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The practice supplied an action plan with timescales telling us how they would ensure they met Regulation 13 of the Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 (HSCA 2008).

The practice has submitted to CQC, a range of documents which demonstrate they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Oxford Road Medical Centre on 1 March 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 managed. However, there were opportunities for improvement in relation to the supporting systems and processes for risk management. For example there were systems and processes in place to complete portable appliance testing but not all associated items in the practice were included and the last recorded testing had taken place in 2013. In addition, controls in place to mitigate risks to patient information were not consistently applied.
• 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 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.
• 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 must make improvement are:

• Ensure that electronic records are maintained securely and only accessed by staff in accordance with systems and processes in place to support the confidentiality of people using the service and associated legislation.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Ensure clinical audit activity is supported by a formal schedule or programme.
• Ensure that comprehensive risk assessments are undertaken to mitigate risks to patients and staff, and these are recorded and reviewed periodically.
• Medicines carried in doctors bags should be included in routine medicine management activity undertaken within the practice.
• The availability of extended surgery hours should be communicated effectively.
• Ensure complaint handling supporting information fully reflects current guidance.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice