Perranporth Surgery

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We looked for evidence that staff protected people from avoidable harm and made sure care was delivered from environments that were clean and well maintained. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The service had contracts to ensure the premises was maintained. Staff and leaders completed health and safety risk assessments and undertook audits to ensure they had identified and addressed all risks. An external company carried out a full health and safety risk assessment, and a number of recommendations were identified. An action plan was formulated following the health and safety assessment to demonstrate action was taken to address the risks identified. During the site visit, a number of these actions were observed as completed. A schedule of work plan had been developed which included timescales to decorate and refurbish the premises. This was overseen by the practice manager together with the partners.

Arrangements were in place for routine testing of the fire system and fire extinguishers and records were maintained. Checks were carried out on electrical equipment to ensure they were safe to use and where appropriate, calibrated to ensure the equipment measured accurately.

The service had a business continuity plan which was regularly reviewed and outlined how the service should continue to operate in the event of a disruption. A flood risk assessment was carried out in November 2023 due to the service being located close to the seafront. This risk assessment identified short, medium and long-term risks which the provider had considered and were necessary and possible and had addressed issues.

The building was secured when empty. During the working day it was observed that people could access the clinical corridors from the waiting room unattended. The clinical rooms were not locked when not in use and therefore were accessible to all visitors to the service. However, clinical rooms contained unlocked cupboards in which sharps materials such as needles and syringes were accessible. The provider rectified this after the site visit and provided us with evidence to demonstrate that only the amount of required equipment to treat people was to be in clinical rooms when they were in use. They had also set out how supplies of needles and syringes would be stored in a central locked location.

Computer equipment was accessed by smart cards and password access by staff. Onsite observation demonstrated staff locked computers and removed smart cards when leaving a room. Clinical equipment was stored within cupboards. However, not all cupboards were locked and could be accessed by visitors to the service. This was rectified following our inspection and we were provided with evidence to show that actions had been taken to mitigate risk, which included clinicians ensuring all clinical rooms were locked when they were not in use.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The service employed a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, which included GPs, nurses, and paramedics. The provider reviewed staffing level and skill mix in order to meet people’s needs safely and effectively.

Clinical staff received supervision and support from either the lead nurse, GP trainers or peers, managers and team leaders.

The service was a GP training practice with medical students, foundation level doctors and registrar level doctors. Each trainee doctor had a named GP trainer, and the duty doctor provided support when the GP trainer was not available. The clinicians met at a morning huddle and also during a morning coffee break. Examples were provided of when support had been provided for clinicians who were dealing with a complex case and to discuss best practice. The partners reviewed notes and decisions made by trainees following each clinic.

Audits were carried out to review the prescribing carried out by non-medical prescribers within the service and opportunities made to enable non-medical prescribers to discuss their work with GPs.

The service was in the process of developing and gathering all available recruitment information into electronic personnel records. However, some records were stored in paper personnel folders, and not all information was readily available. A recruitment checklist had been developed to clearly identify checks completed during the recruitment process. We received assurances from the provider after the site visit which showed they were continuing with the process to transfer paper recruitment records on to the electronic system.

We reviewed 5 recruitment records which contained information on employment history and evidence of satisfactory conduct in previous employment, in the form of references. Recruitment files did not consistently record details of registration with professional bodies or pre-employment health checks. However, the service had set up a system to ensure professional checks had been undertaken. There was access to human resources and occupational health services which with records to show these had been used during the recruitment period when needed.

One staff file was missing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and there was no risk assessment to consider the risk. The provider told us this had been applied for following the site visit. (DBS is a check which enables employers to check the criminal records of current and potential employees to ascertain whether they are suitable to work.)

All staff were provided with induction training which was role specific. A policy had not been developed to show what training was needed, however ongoing training was set out on the internal electronic system in accordance with the member of staff’s role and responsibilities. Some staff did not have all training required on their record. The service stated they would review this and add relevant information on the day of the site visit.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. Staff had completed relevant training in infection prevention and control (IPC).

The service had cleaning schedules available, which outlined how staff should clean the building and its equipment. The service demonstrated how these were monitored for completion to maintain oversight of cleaning arrangements. During our onsite visit, the service's premises and a sample of equipment reviewed was noted to be visibly clean. Staff were aware of their role in keeping the clinical areas and equipment clean during the day and following interactions with people.

The service’s IPC lead conducted regular risk assessments and audits to ensure compliance and took action where necessary to mitigate any identified risks. However, there was bleach stored in an unlocked cupboard in an unlocked room. Assurances were provided this had been removed and secured immediately. Clinical waste bins were stored near the building and were locked but not secured. The service said they would take action to secure the bins.

Staff were able to give an example of when a spill kit had been used appropriately. Following the incident this had been discussed at a clinical meeting and during a half day training meeting, to refresh all staff on the use of spill kits and their responsibilities.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.