Archived: Oakwood Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Oakwood Surgery on 17 November 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care for all of the population groups it serves.

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 was in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• The practice held a register of the 2% of patients who were vulnerable or housebound and at risk of an unplanned hospital admission. These patients had access to same day telephone consultations with a GP.
• The practice were involved in the Year of Care Initiative. This initiative was aimed at encouraging patients with long term conditions to understand their condition and select their own personal health and lifestyle targets.
• The practice had a process in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency (A&E) and those patients who had unplanned hospital admission.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in care and decisions about their treatment.
• Patients were positive about access to the service. They said they found it easy to make an appointment, there was continuity of care and urgent appointments were available on the same day as requested.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff were supported by management.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw two areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:

• Ensure that all confidential documents are stored appropriately.
• Ensure arrangements are in place to assure that conversations between patients and reception cannot be overheard.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice