Mount Chambers Medical Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mount Chambers Medical Practice on 11 January 2017. The practice was rated as good overall and requires improvement for well-led. The full comprehensive report on the January 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Mount Chambers Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 17 October 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 11 January 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Prescription stationery was stored in clinical rooms in locked printers.
• The practice had reviewed the outcome of the GP survey, published in July 2017, and used this feedback to improve the service offered to patients.
• Specimens were stored safely prior to submission for testing.
• The practice had file containing information relating to medicine and patient safety alerts and staff were aware of where this was kept.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mount Chambers Medical Practice on 11 January 2017. 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.
• The practice had an effective system for the management of patient safety and medicines alerts but not all relevant staff were aware of the latest information available to them.
• The majority of risks to patients were assessed and well managed. However the systems in place for ensuring that medical equipment and prescription stationery were stored securely were not effective.
• Specimens awaiting submission for testing were stored in a place that was accessible to patients.
• 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.
• The majority of patients said they were treated with kindness, 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care and access to services as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Data from the national GP patient survey reflected that patient satisfaction was lower than CCG and national averages for several of the areas measured.
• Patients had mixed views on access to appointments. The practice was regularly reviewing their appointment system.
• The practice was limited by the size of their facilities however was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice responded positively to feedback from staff and patients.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Ensure that prescription stationery is kept securely.
• Implement a system to respond to patient feedback as highlighted in the national GP patient survey and to actively seek and act on patient feedback.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure specimens are stored safely prior to submission for testing.
• The practice should ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the location of information relating to medicine and patient safety alerts.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice