This practice is rated as Requires Improvement overall. (Previous inspection July 2017 – Inadequate)
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Requires Improvement
Are services responsive? – Requires Improvement
Are services well-led? - Good
As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:
Older People – Requires Improvement
People with long-term conditions – Requires Improvement
Families, children and young people – Requires Improvement
Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Requires Improvement
People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Requires Improvement
People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Requires Improvement
The population groups are rated as requires improvement overall because we identified areas of concern in the caring and responsive key questions, which have an impact on all population groups. There were, however, examples of good practice.
We undertook an announced focused inspection on 5 October 2017. This inspection was carried out to check whether the provider had taken action to address shortfalls in relation to legal requirements which had been identified at our previous comprehensive inspection. We found that some improvements had been made.
We undertook this announced comprehensive inspection on 8 March 2018 to check that the practice had improved and to confirm they now met legal requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bowburn Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had made significant progress since the last inspection and had addressed all areas of concern.
- We found improvements in the overall governance arrangements, improved care and treatment for patients and better safety systems and processes
- There were clear systems to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
- The practice had much improved systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care they provided. They ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
- Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) for 2016/17 showed the practice had achieved 100% of the points available to them for providing recommended treatments for the most commonly found clinical conditions.
- Results from the National GP Patient Survey showed satisfaction levels were below local and national averages, although recent feedback (from the Friends and Family Test and CQC comment cards) contradicted those results. Managers at the practice were working with the patient participation group (PPG) to undertake their own in-house patient survey.
- Patients were able to access care and treatment from the practice within an acceptable timescale for their needs.
The area where the provider should make improvements is:
- Continue to review patient satisfaction and make improvements in relation to access and the wider patient experience.
I am taking this service out of special measures. This recognises the significant improvements made to the quality of care provided by the service.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice