French Weir Health Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out the main part of our inspection on 4th November 2014, we returned to the practice on 11th November 2014 to allow our GP specialist advisor to be present at the inspection. We inspected French Weir Health Centre as part of our new comprehensive inspection programme. The practice had not been inspected under our new methodology before and that was why we included them.

Overall we found the practice is rated as good with many examples of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led practice. Patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the practice during our inspection and this was reflected in the comment cards we also received.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Access to the practice was good with 50% of appointments being bookable on the day and 50% in advance. There was an online booking system available to patients.
• The GPs held individual patient lists which enabled patients to see a named GP of their choice for the majority of appointments.
• There were systems in place which ensured patient safety and prompt referrals to other services to ensure patients health was maintained or improved.
• The practice had systems in place which ensured a hygienic environment was maintained.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect by a staff team who understood patients’ needs.
• Communication within the practice and to other services outside the practice was effective.
• The leadership of the management team ensured staff were informed and supported to deliver safe and effective care to patients

We saw several areas of outstanding practice including:

• The practice supported families from outside the area when they were accommodated in local family observation units.
• The practice had two GPs who provided surgeries in a local school four days each week.
• GPs gave their private telephone numbers to families where bereavement was imminent so that patients could contact them urgently for advice or support. They also telephoned patients to congratulate them on the birth of a child.
• Each GP held a personal patient list. Each GP had a buddy GP and they knew details about patients on their colleagues list. Reception and nursing staff knew which patient was on each GP list which helped ensure continuity of care.
• The practice held surgery visits in a nursing home once each week and visits were planned to increase to two visits each week to respond to the needs of patients living in the home.
• GPs used tablet computers to download patient records ahead of home visits. This enabled GPs to use the most up to date patient information during the visit and then to record notes which were uploaded into the patients computer record on their return.
• To support recruitment and retention of GPs the practice allowed GPs to take a six week, back filled, sabbatical every four years and provided financial support and bursaries to attend training courses.

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

Importantly, the provider must:

• Ensure their recruitment processes include a risk assessment to identify where a Disclosure and Barring Service check is required before the staff member commences their role.

Additionally the provider should:

• Ensure all staff complete updated training in regard of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Ensure records of Hepatitis B checks are completed for all relevant staff.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice