Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Woden Road Surgery on 15 August 2016. The overall rating for the practice was Good with Requires Improvement for providing safe services. The full comprehensive report on the August 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Woden Road Surgery 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 breach in regulation that we identified at our previous inspection on 16 August 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
Overall the practice is now rated as good.
Our key findings were as follows:
- There was an open and transparent approach to safety and there was a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. The provider had reviewed how they shared the outcome and learning from significant events. Information was shared at monthly staff specific meetings. The sharing of information and learning could be further improved by periodically discussing all significant events that have occurred with the whole staff team.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. Improvements had been made to the management of high risk medicines and recruitment procedures. Systems were in place for monitoring and review of prescriptions that had not been collected.
We also saw the following best practice recommendations we previously made in relation to providing safe, caring and responsive services had been actioned:
- The provider had introduced a system for checking the cleanliness of the patient facilities through out the day.
- Staff had attended fire safety, health and safety and basic life support training and to provide them with the skills needed to deal with unexpected emergencies.
- The provider had reviewed practices around maintaining confidentiality in the reception area. Notices were displayed to inform patients that they could request to speak with a member of staff in private if they wished to.
- The provider had removed the book for recording complaints and concerns from the reception area. Patients wishing to raise concerns were encouraged to put their concerns in writing or offered the opportunity to speak with the business manager.
- Information about registering as a carer was displayed in the waiting room, in addition to information signposting carers to support services. The provider had increased the number of carers identified from 0.7% to 1.2% of the practice list.
- The provider had reviewed access to the building for patients with mobility difficulties. The external door was left open throughout the day, with notices asking patients not to close the door. A door bell to alert staff that a patient needed assistance was in place by the external door with a prominent notice informing patients to ring for assistance. The provider was in the process of obtaining quotes for the installation of an automatic door.
However, there were still areas of practice where the provider could make improvements.
The provider should:
- Consider periodically discussing all significant events that had occurred with the whole staff team.
- Consider discussing medicine and safety alerts at a central forum and recording actions taken on a central log.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice