Archived: Eaves Lane Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Eaves lane Surgery on 4 July 2017. 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.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance and had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment. Clinical education events were run at the practice’s sister surgery every two months for any local clinicians who wanted to attend.
• Patients we spoke to and comment cards that we received said that they felt the practice offered an excellent service and that staff were helpful, caring and treated them with dignity and respect. They also indicated improvements in the service since the new GPs had taken over.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with 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. Patients were able to access appointments at three different surgery sites including daily walk-in clinics and Saturday appointments.
• The practice was aware of the limitations of the surgery premises and was looking to relocate to a new surgery site that it was planning to have built in the locality.
• 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.
• The practice had strong and visible clinical and managerial leadership and governance arrangements.
• The practice had undergone a period of change which had resulted in improved services for patients. The practice had a strong vision, which focused on working with patients to ensure high quality care and treatment as its top priority.
• The strategy to deliver this vision had been produced with stakeholders and was regularly reviewed and discussed with staff.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice