Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ferry Road Health Centre on 19 August 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 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.
- The practice dispensed medicines to patients who lived within a mile of the surgery.
- Although there were some effective systems in place to manage medicines, the practice needed to improve their monitoring of fridge temperatures and management of controlled drugs.
- 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 improvement are:
To ensure the proper and safe management of medicines. Specifically to ensure that refrigerators are monitored daily and that controlled drugs are handled in accordance with the legislation. Additionally staff should ensure that they are aware of the identity of their CD (controlled drugs) Accountable Officer and authorised witnesses.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
To ensure that near misses in the dispensary are recorded.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice