We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Oswald Road Medical Centre on 16 and 23 August 2022. Overall, the practice is rated as good.
Safe - good
Effective - good
Caring - good
Responsive - good
Well-led - good
Why we carried out this inspection
We carried out this inspection in line with our inspection priorities. This was the providers first inspection since registration in February 2021.
How we carried out the inspection
This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.
This included:
- Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
- Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
- Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
- Requesting evidence from the provider.
- A short site visit.
Our findings
We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:
- what we found when we inspected
- information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
- information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.
We found that:
- The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
- Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs. We noted good quality care of patients with long term conditions and high-quality asthma reviews.
- Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care. We noted significant improvement in data relating to patient satisfaction.
- Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way. We noted significant improvement in data relating to patient satisfaction with access following the implementation of new systems to address this area.
- The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.
We noted excellent practice in the use of the gold standard framework for patients requiring end of life care. The practice had developed a patient register and systems to clearly identify these patients and ensure all staff were informed of the care requirements at each stage. Patients were offered a home visit or video call and anticipatory medicines. Advice was offered to care staff and relatives.
Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:
- Identify a deputy safeguarding lead.
- Improve storage facilities in the storeroom.
- Improve monitoring of the use of blank prescriptions.
- Continue to take action to improve the uptake of childhood immunisations and cervical screening.
- Improve systems to monitor staff training.
- Further develop and share the practice vision and strategy.
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.
Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA
Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services