19 September 2018
During an inspection looking at part of the service
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Hillside Bridge Surgery on 3 July 2018. The overall rating for the practice was inadequate and the service was placed in special measures. The full comprehensive report for the July 2018 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hillside Bridge Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 19 September 2018 to confirm that the practice had responded to the warning notice dated 24 July 2018 and met the legal requirements in relation to the breach of Regulation 12 (1), Safe Care and Treatment, identified in our previous inspection on 3 July 2018. The practice was required to be compliant with the concerns documented in the warning notice by 1 September 2018.
This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.
Our key findings were as follows:
- We found a number of areas where the practice was not compliant with regulation 12 as was required.
- The provider had taken steps to improve the management of medicines in the practice. However, we identified a number of further concerns in this area which needed improvement.
- The provider had reviewed their approach to the management of significant events. We saw that recent events had been reviewed, managed and discussed at staff meetings. We saw evidence that changes were made as a result of the event.
- A process to manage the appropriate use, distribution and storage of prescription pads had been introduced but did not fully meet NHS Protect guidance.
- The system in place to manage the administration of medicines under patients group directions (PGDs) did not meet standards and had not improved. We asked the provide to review this with immediate effect.
- The practice had requested DBS checks for five member of staff who had been transferred from the previous provider; only one of these checks had been returned on the day of our inspection. We asked the provider to further review this to ensure that patients were safe.
- The provider had reviewed their approach to the management of infection prevention and control in the practice. However, a number of related issues had yet to be addressed and additional concerns were found on the day of inspection.
Importantly, the areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:
- The provider must ensure that safe care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
We are taking further action in line with our enforcement processes. The service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice