Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the Ruddington Medical Centre on 09 February 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. It was also good for providing services for all the population groups we inspected.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- Risks to patients were mostly assessed and well managed. However, recording systems in respect of the management of the practice and staff employed needed strengthening to ensure a safe service. This included infection control policies, procedures for dealing with emergencies and staff records.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- Most patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and urgent appointments were usually available the same day. Some patients felt improvements were required in respect of the availability of non-urgent appointments, in particular if they wished to see a specific GP or outside working hours.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.
- Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
- Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.
- The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
- There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
- The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the Patient Participation Group (PPG).
- There were high levels of engagement between the practice and patient participation group (PPG) to encourage: patients to be more proactive in managing their conditions; provide information and support for carers; and ensure the regular review of services.
However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
The provider should:
- Improve the availability of non-urgent appointments and flexibility of access to appointments for the working age population group.
- Ensure recruitment arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.
- Ensure all staff have appropriate policies and guidance to carry out their roles in a safe manner.
- Ensure systems for assessing, monitoring and recording risks and the quality of the service provision are strengthened.
- Ensure an up to date business plan is in place and discussed with all staff.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice