Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Oakenhurst Medical Practice on 18 October 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 a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. There was evidence of shared learning from events and actions put in place although there was no formal documentation of actions taken and review of those actions. The practice sent us evidence following inspection to show that a comprehensive system had been put in place for future reporting and review.
- Risks to patients were assessed and 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.
- The practice had developed a decision aid for consent for influenza vaccinations for patients where decisions needed to take account of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Standards.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- The practice had run a “Boo to Flu!” event for children to encourage uptake of the nasal ‘flu vaccination.
- 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 said they found it easy to make an appointment with a 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 and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
We saw one area of outstanding practice:
- One of the practice GPs had won a Professionals Macmillan Excellence Award in November 2015 for a “Think Cancer” project. As a result of the project, all GP practices in the CCG had appointed Cancer Champions which had improved the diagnosis, care and treatment for patients suffering from cancer. The GP was also the lead GP for the CCG which won a National Patient Safety Award in 2016 that aimed to improve services, treatment and care at all stages of the cancer journey for patients.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
- Follow the procedure defined by the practice significant event analysis tool to allow for all actions taken as a result of analysis to be recorded and reviewed.
- Improve the identification of carers within the practice population.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice