Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Nightingale Practice on 15 November 2016. 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.
- Risks to patients were not always assessed and well managed.
- The practice was an outlier in respect of a number of clinical targets though this was largely attributed to the practice’s patient demographics. From the records reviewed we found that staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
- Staff had received clinical training which provided them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment. However, some essential training had not been completed at the time of our inspection.
- Patients 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 provided to all patients and their relatives and was easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
- Patients said they found it easy to access clinical care when required.
- 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.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
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Improve mechanisms for gathering and acting upon patient and relative feedback.
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Monitor the vaccine fridge in line with Public Health England guidance.
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Review areas of QOF where the practice is an outlier and antibiotic prescribing with a view to bringing performance in line with local and national guidance.
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Ensure complaints responses follow practice policy and comply with statutory requirements.
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Ensure that all staff complete essential training in accordance with legislation and guidance.
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Undertake a risk assessment to ensure that the practice has an appropriate stock of emergency medicines to enable it to respond effectively in an emergency.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice