Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Milman Road Surgery- Dr Mittal on 26 January 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. The full comprehensive report on the January 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Milman Road Surgery – Dr Mittal on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
The practice registered an additional 5000 patients on 1 April 2017 following the closure of another practice in the same building. The practice that closed had a breach of regulation identified during their inspection in September 2016. CQC had also received information of concern regarding Milman Road Surgery – Dr Mittal that required follow up.
This inspection was an announced focused inspection, carried out on 23 May 2017, to follow up the issues of concern and verify that the practice systems in place supported the rapid increase in registered patients. This report covers our findings in relation to these issues and the information of concern we had received. We have not reviewed the existing ratings following this inspection.
Our key findings were as follows:
- The practice provided information in languages other than English to support patients whose first language was not English.
- Clinical audit was undertaken to improve outcomes for patients and an audit plan was in place.
- There was a system in place to manage requests for home visits and telephone consultations.
- The practice demonstrated an effective process for dealing with repeat prescription requests and issue of urgent prescriptions.
- There was a system in place to record and take action upon medicine and product alerts. Minutes of meetings showed that these were discussed and actions taken when appropriate. The GP we spoke with identified medicine alerts and the action taken when they were relevant to the practice.
- There was a portable hearing loop available for use at both reception desks to assist patients that used hearing aids.
- Automated doors were provided and a lift was available to assist patients with mobility problems.
The practice had systems in place that complied with regulations and supported the care of all registered patients. These systems addressed the breaches that had affected the practice whose patients transferred upon closure of the next door practice on 31 March 2017. The practice also demonstrated systems were in place to address the concerns CQC had received since the last inspection.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice