20 September 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Quays Medical (GP) Practice on 20 September 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.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
- 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. 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 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.
We saw some areas of outstanding practice, examples included:
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The continuing support to patients registered as part of the Violent Allocation Scheme (VAS) was integral to ensuring high quality continued care. For example, the practice offered a ‘non-judgemental’ service to patients registered in this scheme and completed a risk assessment for all patients registering including a 12 month rehabilitation period. Patients were then offered an opportunity to register with a practice of their choice. Since the start of the scheme the practice manager told us that approximately 50% of the patients that originally registered had stayed and registered with the practice.
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The practice had implemented a system whereby homeless people could use services directly with the practice. For example, the practice had organised support evenings on the practice premises where a stall was set up to distribute clothing, warm food, drinks and toiletries to homeless people. Staff also searched the local area of Hull City to hand out provisions to homeless people. This service was communicated to homeless people via different community channels for example hostels, soup kitchens and word of mouth.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice