Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the practice of Timperley Health Centre - Westwood on 24 January 2017. Overall the practice is now rated as good.
The practice had been previously inspected on 21 January 2016. Following that inspection the practice was rated as requires improvement with the following domain ratings:
Safe – Requires Improvement
Effective – Requires improvement
Caring – Good
Responsive – Good
Well led – Requires improvement.
The practice provided us with an action plan detailing how they were going to make the required improvements.
The inspection on 24 January 2017 was to confirm the required actions had been completed and award a new rating if appropriate.
Following this re-inspection on 24 January 2017, 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 at or above average when compared to those locally and nationally.
- Feedback from patients about their care was strongly positive,
- Patients said they were in the main 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 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.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice