Archived: Dr Rushda Ghani Also known as South Saxon House Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at  Dr Rushda Ghani's practice on 2 February 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.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed with the exception of not having risk assessed the practice for Legionella and not having had an electrical internal wiring check within the previous five years.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment, with the exception that we found not all staff had received up to date training in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. However, all staff that we spoke to showed a good level of understanding of the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Most patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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.
• The practice educated patients about minor injuries and illnesses to try to decrease patient use of the accident and emergency department.
• 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 must make improvement are:

To ensure that all staff have received training in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults to the appropriate level.

Ensure that a risk assessment and all recommended actions are completed, monitored and recorded to minimise the risk of legionella. (Legionella is a term for a particular bacterium which can contaminate water systems in buildings).

Ensure that the electricity supply and internal wiring for the practice are tested.

Ensure that recruitment checks, including full employment history and references, are completed and retained even if the person is previously known to the practice.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

Assess why data from the national GP patient survey showed patients rated the practice lower than others for several aspects of care including involvement of patients in decisions about their care and treatment. Consider relevant action based on the findings.

Assess why data from the national GP patient survey showed that the percentage of patients that said they would recommend their GP surgery to someone who has just moved to the local area was lower than the national average. Consider relevant action based on the findings.

Review whether new systems in place for identifying carers within the practice population are effective with a view to increasing the percentage of carers on the carers' register.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice