Archived: Grange Medical Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Grange Medical Centre on 10 December 2015.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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients we spoke with on the day of the visit said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• 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, the practice offered several “drop in” clinics during the week in response to concerns from the patient participation group, (PPG). A number of urgent appointments were 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 and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

The Patient Participation Group (PPG) held events and talks in the surgery, sports centres, mosques and day centres, highlighting health issues and promoting services at the surgery. The GP's proactively engaged with the PPG and met regularly with them. By highlighting health issues, conditions and available clinics, attendance for screening such as cervical screening had improved.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

The practice should maintain up to date records of staff training and ensure that mandatory training is documented.

The practice should ensure that all members of staff who undertake a formal chaperone role undergo training, so that they develop the competencies required for the role.

The practice should ensure that a risk assessment for the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) is available.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice