Updated 22 July 2016
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
In December 2015 during a comprehensive inspection of The Avenue Medical Centre in Slough, Berkshire, we found concerns related to systems and processes which managed the safe and effective delivery of services. Following the inspection the provider sent us an action plan detailing how they would improve the areas of concern. The previous inspection in December 2015 had found three breaches of the regulations relating to the safe delivery of services, the need for consent and good governance.
We carried out a follow up inspection of The Avenue Medical Centre on 6 July 2016 to ensure these changes had been implemented and that the service was meeting the requirements of the regulations.
The ratings for the practice have been updated to reflect our findings following the improvements made since our last inspection in December 2015; the practice was now meeting the regulations that had previously been breached.
Specifically the practice was:
- Operating safe systems in relation to cleanliness and infection control. Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, this included completing actions following infection control and prescription security concerns we identified at the December 2015 inspection.
- The practice had revised arrangements to deal with emergencies and there was a systematic approach implemented to share national patient safety and medicines alerts with the full practice team.
- Appropriate arrangements were in place for recording written and verbal patient consent in line with legislation and guidance.
- Concerns identified at the December 2015 inspection regarding the management and monitoring of outcomes for patients with long term conditions and patients’ experiencing poor mental health had been addressed. The outcomes for these groups of patients had improved significantly.
The Avenue Medical Centre had taken full heed of the findings of the inspection undertaken in December 2015 and is now rated good for the provision of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services. All six population groups have also been re-rated following these improvements and are also rated as good.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice