Archived: Dr Ajay Ramchandran

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Spires Healthcare on 10 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good

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

• We noticed a strong theme of positive feedback from staff and patients. Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised.
• The practice was proactive in identifying and managing significant events. All opportunities for learning were maximised.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand
• The practice had a clear vision which had quality and safety as its top priority. The strategy was regularly reviewed and discussed with staff.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• All patients who were registered with the practice had a named GP and patients could access appointments and services in a way and at a time that suited them.
• The practice implemented suggestions for improvements and made changes to the way it delivered services as a consequence of feedback from patients and from the patient participation group.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. There were high levels of staff engagement and the management team motivated and encouraged staff to succeed.
• Staff recognised and respected people’s needs, and were highly motivated to provide care that is kind and supportive.

There were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:

• Ensure staff receive regular appraisals of their performance to enable development needs to be identified and supported.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice