Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Aireborough Family Practice on 27 October and 18 November 2015. On the morning of the planned inspection the GP specialist advisor was taken ill. The inspection was therefore carried out over two days. It was a comprehensive inspection that examined the organisational, clinical, medical and quality aspects of the practice. Overall the practice is rated as good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care for all of the population groups it serves.
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 was in place for reporting and recording significant events.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in care and decisions about their treatment.
- Patients were positive about access to the service. They said they found it easy to make an appointment, there was continuity of care and urgent appointments were available on the same day as requested.
- The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat and meet the needs of patients.
- The practice sought patient views how improvements could be made to the service, through the use of patient surveys, the NHS Friends and Family Test and the patient participation group.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
- There was a clear leadership structure and staff were supported by management.
- The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.
We saw areas of outstanding practice:
- The practice were supporting the practice nurses to undertake training with the tissue viability nurses. This was to enable them to provide four layer bandages and improve their knowledge of wound management.
- The practice had used CCG monies to purchase dermatoscopes, used to improve examination of skin legions.
- The practice had used pooled monies to recruit an additional nurse and health care assistant to work with the community matron and provide support to the elderly and frail.
- The practice had a dedicated GP to oversee the care of patients with a learning disability and worked closely with the Royal College of GPs Professional Interest Group to develop systems of care for these patients.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice