2 April 2019
During an inspection looking at part of the service
We carried out an announced focused inspection at Clarence Park Surgery on 2 April 2019. This inspection was carried out to follow up on breaches of regulations and areas identified for improvement where we had rated the key question of well led as requires improvement. We had implemented one regulatory requirement, Regulation 17- Good governance and identified areas the provider should take action to improve.
This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating November 2018 – Good)
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services well led? – Good
The patient population groups were all rated as Good.
These were highlighted in the aspects of the areas of safe and well led:
The provider was required to:
- Ensure patients with mental health needs and dementia had the necessary reviews and care plans in place to meet their needs, manage the risks associated with sepsis, including training for staff, the management of significant event management and complaints to monitor themes and trends.
We had also identified areas the provider should make improvements:
- Central oversight of staff’ immunisation, change external security of clinical waste so that it could not be tampered with or removed from the premises.
- Continue with an effective programme to ensure that patients with mental health needs and dementia have the necessary reviews and care to meet their needs.
- The provider should continue with developing an effective monitoring system so that out of date information and instructions such as patient group directions for the provision of immunisations are removed and replaced when required.
At this inspection we reviewed the areas of safe and well led. We included effective as the information we had about the practice indicated potential changes and wished to assess this didn’t compromise meeting patient’s needs. We found:
- A new system of assessment and management of health and safety had been implemented which needed to be fully embedded and sustained.
- Improvements to seek information and confirmation of staff immunisation status was in progress but not yet completed.
- Changes in some of the aspects of infection control had been implemented including security of clinical waste. However, infection control audits were not detailed and had not picked up issues such as appropriate storage of mops and disposable goods in line with current guidance.
- The storage of medicines was not secure, such as clear stock monitoring and safe storage of medicines keys.
- Staff had been trained to respond to medical emergencies – identifying patients at risk from sepsis.
- The management and oversight of significant events and complaints had been strengthened with the improved recording and monitoring.
- The new IT information management system had supported staff to maintain a clear oversight of risks, schedules and monitoring for areas including recruitment, employment and management of areas such as patient group directions for the delivery of vaccinations and immunisations.
- There was an improved monitoring and a programme of support for patients with mental health needs and dementia.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- The provider should continue with developing a central oversight of staff immunisation status to ensure that staff and patients were protected from the spread of infection.
- The provider should continue with a sustained effective programme to ensure that patients have the necessary reviews and care plans in place to meet their needs.
- Ensure the new system of assessment and management of health and safety was embedded and sustained.
- The oversight of infection control management and medicines should be reviewed to ensure it is secure and the system for monitoring medicine stock is improved.
Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care
Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.