Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Chiswick Health Practice on 22 January 2016.The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement; the practice was rated as requires improvement for the safe and effective domains and good for the caring, responsive and well led domains. The full comprehensive report can be found by selecting the Chiswick Health Practice ‘all reports’ link for on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced comprehensive inspection carried out on 2 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 22 January 2016.This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and additional improvements made since our last inspection.
Overall the practice is now 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
- The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
- Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
- Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
- The majority of patients we spoke with said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.
However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
The provider should:
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Maintain the system introduced for nursing staff to follow up pathology results.
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Review their process of reviewing patients on high risk medicines to ensure that all staff are working in line with practice policy.
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Review and improve the process of identifying carers.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice