Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Park Lane Surgery on 23 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as outstanding.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report significant events. These were discussed regularly at meetings and were a standing agenda item. Learning was shared with practice staff regularly and with other practices in the locality on an ‘ad hoc’ basis at planned development events.
- Information about safety alerts was reviewed and communicated to staff by the practice manager in a timely fashion. Recommendations made by the CCG pharmacist following medicines reviews were followed up by GPs.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed through practice meetings and collaborative discussions with the multi-disciplinary team. Patients needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.
- Patients we spoke with told us doctors and nurses at the practice treated them 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 in the reception area and patients told us that they knew how to complain if they needed to.
- Urgent appointments were available on the day they were requested. Patients said that they were able to see their preferred GP within one day. Routine appointments could be booked up to four weeks in advance and were usually available the next day.
- The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. This included easy access for patients who were wheelchair users, baby changing facilities and a private room for breastfeeding.
- There was a clear leadership structure and staff told us they felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from patients, which it acted on. Staff appeared motivated to deliver high standards of care and there was evidence of team working throughout the practice
We saw several areas of outstanding practice including:
- Hosting of a screening programme for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) which was attended by 302 people aged over 65.This led to aneurysms being detected in 5.5% of patients who attended which would otherwise have remained undetected.
- Implementation of a Melanoma Awareness event at the practice where screening was provided on the day and onward referrals made to treat potential or actual identified skin cancers for five patients who might otherwise have not visited their GP about their skin lesion.
- The practice utilised a questionnaire so that patients with dementia and their carers were able to identify their preferences. This was done to assist with treating them with dignity and respect at times when they were unable to communicate effectively.
However there was one area of practice where the provider should make improvements:
- The practice should review the system of clinical audits to ensure all are repeated as part of the continuous improvement in outcomes for patients
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice