- GP practice
Archived: Tonbridge Medical Group
Important:
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All Inspections
28 June 2017
During an inspection looking at part of the service
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Tonbridge Medical Group on 24 November 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. The practice was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services and rated as good for providing effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. The full comprehensive report on the November 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Tonbridge Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 28 June 2017, to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements, in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 24 November 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
Overall the practice remains rated as good.
Our key findings were as follows:
- Records showed that all staff were trained to the appropriate level in safeguarding and basic life support, and that relevant staff were up to date with infection prevention and control training.
- Cleaning equipment, including hazardous cleaning fluids were appropriately stored.
- The practice was able to demonstrate that risks to patients, staff and visitors from fire were being assessed and well managed.
- Records showed a legionella maintenance visit had been carried out by an external company in February 2017. (Legionella is a germ found in the environment which can contaminate water systems in buildings). However, the practice had yet to implement actions to minimise the risk of legionella infection.
- The practice ensured that all confidential waste was appropriately disposed of.
- The practice had recruited members of staff to fill the vacancies in the reception and administrative teams.
- The practice manager held a record of staff training which showed that staff received mandatory and other training appropriate to their roles.
- There was a system that ensured that patients’ test results were reviewed promptly, including when their usual GP was away.
- The practice had made some changes to the arrangements for patients wishing to telephone the practice in order to improve access and this was under ongoing review.
- Information about how to complain was displayed in the practice entrance hall and on the website.
- The practice had recruited additional members of the patient participation group (PPG) and had involved the PPG in relevant practice meetings.
The area where the provider should make improvements is:
- Implement plans to ensure that action is taken to minimise the risk of the spread of legionella.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice
24 November 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Tonbridge Medical Group on 24 November 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 for reporting and recording significant events.
- Risks to patients were not always assessed and well managed. For example, risks associated with appropriate fire safety assessments and the storage of control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) products, as well as staff not being trained to the appropriate level in safeguarding, basic life support and infection control.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. The practice carried out audits and used the results to improve services to patients.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- When patients complained, improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of concerns they raised. However, information about how to complain was not readily on display in the practice or on the website.
- Patients said they did not always find it easy to get through to the practice by telephone to make an appointment. Patients had a usual GP and 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.
- 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 improvements are:
- Ensure staff are trained to the appropriate level in safeguarding, life support and infection control.
- Ensure actions are carried out to reduce the risk of the spread of legionella infection.
- Ensure the practice follows current national guidance on the safe storage of substances hazardous to health.
- Ensure confidential patient information, including waste awaiting collection, is securely stored.
In addition the provider should:
- Continue to ensure regular, comprehensive fire safety risk assessments are carried out.
- Continue to recruit staff to fill vacancies in the reception and administration teams.
- Continue to ensure staff training records are up to date and demonstrate that staff have received training appropriate to their roles.
- Improve systems in order to help ensure test results are reviewed promptly.
- Continue to improve telephone access to the practice.
- Improve processes in order to help ensure information about how to complain is clearly displayed in the practice and on the website.
- Improve the effectiveness of the patient participation group.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice