Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Conishead Medical Group on 28 April 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, well-led, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for the six key population group which are older people; people with long-term conditions; families, children and young people; working age people (including those recently retired and students); people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
- Patients said they were able to get an appointment with a GP when they needed one, 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 they acted on.
However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
Importantly the provider must:
- Implement a staff appraisal system to ensure staff are provided with adequate support to identify and address learning and development needs. In addition the practice should ensure that all staff have the necessary training to allow them to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.
In addition the provider should:
findings
- Ensure regular infection control audits are carried out and recorded
- Ensure that the practice receives assurance and verification that shared equipment such as the defibrillator is checked and maintained.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice