Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Selvaratnam Kulendran (also known as Chase Cross Medical Centre) on 28 July 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on July 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Selvaratnam Kulendran on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 10 July and 19 July 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 28 July 2016. (We visited the practice twice in July 2017 as the practice manager had informed us they would be unavailable on the 10 July 2017 and therefore we were unable to complete the inspection on that day). This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
Overall the practice is rated as good.
At the inspection on 28 July 2016 we found the following areas of concern:
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The system for reporting and recording significant events required reviewing.
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Recruitment arrangements did not include all necessary employment checks for all staff and did not comply with practice recruitment policy.
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Risk assessments had not been carried out for staff who carried out chaperoning duties.
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All staff had not received and completed required training to carry out their roles effectively, including safeguarding, infection control and information governance.
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Systems in place to monitor repeat prescriptions and safety alerts were not adequate.
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There was no system of continuous quality improvement in place.
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Achievement for childhood immunisations was below average.
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There was no patient participation group (PPG) or equivalent arrangement in place to support the collecting of feedback from patients about how the practice was run.
Our key findings at the inspection in July 2017 were as follows:
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There was an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
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The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems, processes and practices in place to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
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Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
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The practice had adequate arrangements in place to respond to emergencies and major incidents.
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Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
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Exception reporting for Mental Health indicators remained above average.
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Achievement for childhood immunisations was in line with national averages.
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Staff had completed information governance, safeguarding and infection control training.
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The provider had an improvement plan for the practice, however they were unable to demonstrate how progress towards achieving the planned improvements was being measured or achieved.
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The practice still did not have a PPG in place although efforts were being made to form one.
In addition, at the inspection on 28 July 2016 we told the provider they should:
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Review systems to identify carers in the practice to ensure they receive appropriate care and support.
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Consider ways to support patients who have a hearing impairment.
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Display notices in the reception areas informing patients that interpreting services are available.
At the inspection in July 2017 we found:
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The patient registration form was updated following the inspection to include a question about whether or not the patient was a carer. We saw information on display and in a folder in the waiting area about available support for patients who were carers.
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A hearing loop had been installed.
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A number of notices had been removed from the display whilst the premises were undergoing renovation. We were told a notice about interpreters would be displayed once the renovations were completed.
However, there remained areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
Importantly, the provider must:
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Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care, specifically in relation to monitoring practice performance, introducing a programme of continuous quality improvement and seeking patient feedback.
Additionally, the provider should:
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice