The Connaught Square Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Connaught Square Practice on 15 June 2017. The overall rating for the practice was Requires Improvement. The full comprehensive report on the 15 June 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Connaught Square Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection, on 23 August 2018, was an announced comprehensive inspection to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the requirements that we identified in our previous inspection on 15 June 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and any improvements made since our last inspection. The practice is now rated as Good overall.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had addressed the findings of our previous inspection in respect of the management of patient safety alerts, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, medicine management and clinical protocols.
• There were systems in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from abuse and staff we spoke with knew how to identify and report safeguarding concerns.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice had systems in place to ensure care and treatment was delivered according to evidence-based guidelines.
• Some patient outcomes were variable. However, we saw that the practice had plans in place to further address these shortfalls. Patient comment cards received were all positive about the service.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients were able to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The facilities and premises were appropriate for the services delivered. The practice had made reasonable adjustments when patients found it hard to access services.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Consider auditing the system to manage test results to assure yourself that it is functioning effectively.
• Address the outstanding actions of the Infection Prevention and Control audit.
• Continue to monitor patient outcomes in relation to the cervical screening programme and the child immunisation programme.
• Continue to monitor results in relation to the GP national survey.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.