Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection October 2014– Good)
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Requires improvement
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 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 inspection at The Fairlands Practice on 5 December 2017. The inspection was carried out as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
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Staff were motivated and inspired to offer kind and compassionate care and respected the totality of their needs.
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The patient participation group was also active. The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the patient participation group (PPG). For example, the practice provided appointments on a Saturday morning.
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Access to interpreters was available, including British Sign Language, for patients who required this help.
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The practice ensured that appropriate patients, those deemed to be at risk or especially frail, received a proactive anticipatory care plan in partnership with the patient and any carer.
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The practice was proactive in undertaking clinical audit to improve patient care.
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The practice had an effective infection control process in place and acted on issues found during audits.
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The practice ensured all recruitment checks were undertaken prior to staff starting employment.
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A GP undertook a weekly ward round at a local nursing home to promote continuity of care.
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The practice was trialling an electronic consultation system which enabled patients to contact a doctor and obtain a response within two working days.
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A member of staff acted as a carers’ champion to help ensure that the various services supporting carers were coordinated and effective.
The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:
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Safe care and treatment must be provided in a safe way to patients, including the proper and safe management of medicines and acting on all medicine alerts.
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Review their significant event reporting and investigation process following incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people using the service.
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Review their process in managing the use of prescription forms throughout the practice so as to mitigate risk.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice