12/10/2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Leigh Family Practice on 12 October 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including those relating to recruitment checks.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
- Data showed patient outcomes were in line with those locally and nationally.
- Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive,
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a result of feedback from patients.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
- Patients said they found it problematic at times to contact the surgery by telephone and to make an appointment; however there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
- The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. A new site and planning had been submitted for the Higher Fold surgery which will improve the environment for patients and staff.
- There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice