Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Ashraf Botros on 22 March 2016. The practice was rated as good for providing caring, responsive and well-led services, and requires improvement for providing safe and effective services. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. We issued two requirement notices to the provider in respect of safe care and treatment and fit and proper persons employed.
The full comprehensive report on the March 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Ashraf Botros on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced comprehensive follow up inspection on 25 May 2017 to check that action had been taken to comply with legal requirements and assess what improvements had been made. We found improvements had been made however further improvement was necessary in relation to providing safe services. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
- The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety, although there were shortfalls in relation to high risk medicine monitoring and dealing with medical emergencies.
- Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
- Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
- Patients we spoke with said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and 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.
- 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.
- 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 must make improvement are:
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Ensure there is an effective system in place to monitor patients on high risk medicines.
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Review emergency medicine provisions and ensure a log of checks is in place for all medicines and emergency equipment.
In addition the provider should:
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Implement a system to check that results are received for all samples sent for the cervical screening programme.
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Consider ways to improve uptake for national bowel and breast cancer screening programmes.
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Consider ways to improve childhood immunisation rates for children up to two years of age.
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Consider ways to improve patient satisfaction with nurse consultations.
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Review provisions for gender specific GP requests.
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Develop a formal strategy to deliver the practice vision.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice