Broadstairs Medical Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Broadstairs Medical Practice on 25 April 2017. The full comprehensive report on the April 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Broadstairs Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 31 October 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 25 April 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice had revised their policies and processes for ensuring the safe management of medicines.
• The practice had a clear vision and strategy to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients. They had a business plan outlining their vision and values and had shared it with the practice team.
• The practice had a strong understanding of their clinical performance. They held partnership meetings weekly and clinical meetings monthly. These were well documented.
• We found the practice had strengthened systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of services. For example; a programme of audit to inform quality improvements.
• Members of the clinical team had access to guidance. New NICE guidance was assigned to clinical staff to review and share during their monthly meetings.
• The practice were actively capturing carers and had identified 78, amounting to 1% of the patient list. They had revised their carers policy defining the services and support patients can expect from them. The service was also working with the care co-ordinator and primary care visitor.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Malik and Partners also known as Broadstairs Medical Practice on 25 April 2017. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement. We rated the practice as good for providing effective, caring and responsive services and requires improvement for safe and well led services

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice had a system for capturing concerns, including reporting and recording significant events. These were investigated and lessons were shared to make sure action was taken to improve safety in the practice.

• We found the practice to be clean and tidy. Staff had received training in infection control.

• Appropriate recruitment checks had been conducted for new staff.

• Unverified data from the 2016/2017 Quality and Outcomes Framework showed good patient outcomes. The practice had achieved 88% of the points available.

• The practice had an open culture and systems in place to share current evidence based guidance. However, these required strengthening to ensure all staff remained appraised of developments in guidance.

• Staff had the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment. They were supported to undertake additional training for their own professional development and the benefit of the practice.

• The practice conducted patient health checks and encouraged patients to participate in national screening programmes.

• 94% of the patients who had completed the NHS Friends and Family test would recommend the practice to their friends or family.

• Complaints were acknowledged, investigated and responded to appropriately. Where appropriate, lessons were learnt and shared with the staff.

• The practice had a clear vision and strategy to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients. This was not formalised within a business plan but staff were clear about the vision and their responsibilities in relation to it.

• The practice had a strong understanding of their clinical performance, but acknowledged the need to strengthen their governance arrangements including recording discussions, decisions and how changes have been embedded into practice.

• The practice valued and actively sought feedback from staff and patients. They had successfully recruited to their virtual patient participation group, although this was in its infancy.

• The practice was active within their Clinical Commissioning Group demonstrating willingness to learn and improve. They were involved in local initiatives and pilot programmes.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure the safe prescribing of medicines.

• Ensure systems and processes are established to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of services. For example; a programme of audit to inform quality improvements.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are;

• Improve the dissemination of NICE guidance and check compliance.

• Improve the identification of carers and show them on the clinical system for the information of staff.

• Formalise the practice business plan to inform the delivery and development of services.

• Maintain records of discussions and decisions including evidencing how changes have been embedded into practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice