Archived: Child and Family Doctors Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Child and Family Doctors Surgery on 9 November 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice had identified 55 carers, less than one percent of the practice population.
• The overall clinical exception rate was 15% which was above the local and national averages.
• Patients told us they had difficulty in contacting the practice by phone and in getting an appointment. The practice was aware of these issues and had taken action to improve access.
• 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 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 should make improvement are:

• Review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the patient record system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to all.

• Work to improve its overall clinical exception rate which is above local and national averages.

• Continue to improve phone access and the availability of appointments for the benefit of patients.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice