16 June 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Spitalfields Medical Centre – Health E1 on 16 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
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The practice asked all new patients about their caring responsibilities, but no patients with caring responsibilities had been recorded.
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The practice had carried out one complete two-cycle audit in the last two years. It also monitored 29 key performance indicators every month.
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The practice used innovative and proactive methods to improve patient outcomes. For example the practice ran dual-diagnosis clinics to enable mental and physical health issues to be addressed within the same consultation.
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There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
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Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
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Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
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Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
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Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP or nurse practitioner and there was continuity of care, with urgent and routine appointments available the same day.
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There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
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The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
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To review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the patient record system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to all.
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To introduce safeguarding training and updates for all staff at the appropriate level.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice