12 May 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Westdale Lane Surgery on 12 May 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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Learning outcomes were shared with staff.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. This included effective health and safety management such as regular checks that equipment was safe to use. Appropriate arrangements were in place to ensure the practice could respond to emergencies and processes were in place to ensure good infection prevention control standards.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Clinical audit drove quality improvement. Staff had been trained and had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment to patients.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. Patient feedback which included the National GP Patient survey generally rated the care provided higher than local and national averages.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Staff we spoke with knew the procedure in place for addressing patient complaints. 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 named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
- The practice had good facilities and had been recently renovated. It 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.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
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To continue to identify more carers and offer support to them.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice