Archived: Dr Larissa Tate Also known as The Haven Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Larissa Tate (The Haven Practice) on 16 September 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 an effective system in place 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.
• The practice achieved higher than average scores in many areas of the national GP patient survey.
• 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.
• Risks to patients were generally assessed and well managed with the exception of the management of vaccines stored in a fridge that had recorded temperatures outside of the suitable range for storage and a risk assessment that had not been completed for the decision not to have a defibrillator on the premises.
• The practice was registered with CQC (Care Quality Commission) as an individual provider. However, we found that the service was operating as a partnership and had not amended their registration accordingly.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure that action is taken to ensure the cold chain is maintained for vaccines stored in the vaccines fridge.
• Ensure that a risk assessment is recorded with mitigating actions for the decision not to have a defibrillator on the premises.
• Ensure that the process for assessing risk within the practice incorporates the assessment of all environmental and situational risks and that actions to reduce risk are clear and recorded.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice