Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Riverside Medical Practice on 8 December 2015. 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 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.
- Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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. This means providers must be open and transparent with service users about their care and treatment, including when it goes wrong.
We saw one area of outstanding practice:
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
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Ensure recruitment arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.
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Ensure the lessons learn from significant event analysis is shared with all staff.
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Ensure staff meetings and action from these meetings are recorded.
Ensure staff are clear about who is responsible for lead roles and who to contact when the named person is not working.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice