Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection September 2015 – Good)
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? - Good
As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:
Older People – Good
People with long-term conditions – Good
Families, children and young people – Good
Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good
People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good
People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Barton House Medical Practice on 15 March 2018 as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- The practice had safe systems and processes in place within the dispensary and had improved the service based on patient need through the development of blister packs and a delivery service.
- The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
- The practice had a focus on quality improvement and demonstrated improved prescribing practices as a result of prescribing audits.
- The practice had introduced an integrated nurse practitioner role that provided improved support for frail patients and carers.
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- The practice had systems in place to identify carers and provide support to them.
- The practice had systems in place to obtain feedback from patients and had taken action on this.
- Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
- There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Review how the temperatures of the vaccine fridges are monitored.
- Review the infection control lead’s training.
- Review systems to improve the results recorded for the uptake of childhood immunisations.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice