13 May 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Small Heath Medical Practice on 13 May 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 assessed and generally well managed.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Although national GP patient survey data showed scores below CCG and national average for patient involvement.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
- Patients usually found it easy to make an appointment and changes had been made to the appointment system to improve access. 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.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Clarify within the repeat prescribing policy which medicines are to be referred back to GP for uncollected prescriptions.
- Undertake routine fire drills of the premises.
- Review clinical audit process to ensure improvements made are sustained.
- Review appraisal process for nursing staff to ensure they receive clinical input into this.
- Review processes to try and encourage greater uptake of national screening programmes for relevant patients.
- Review and implement ways in which the identification of carers might be improved.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice