Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Cornerways Medical Centre on 21 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cornerways Medical centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced comprehensive inspection on 4 July 2017 to check the practice had made the required improvements.The key questions are now rated as good for safe, effective, caring and responsive and requires improvement for the well-led domain. Overall the practice is now 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, with the exception of carrying out and recording checks to reduce the risk of legionella infection.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
- 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 with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
- The practice was proactive at offering a range of appointment lengths and types to meet patient’s needs.
- 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.
- We found there were still gaps in the training staff needed to undertake their roles. For example, not all staff had received training in fire safety and infection prevention control.
- The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
There continue to be areas where the provider must make improvement:
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care
In addition, there are areas where the provider should make improvement:
- Review the responses to complaints to ensure they are consistently in line with national guidance.
- Review the process for reporting appropriate significant events to external organisations in order to improve wider learning.
- Review the practice website regularly to ensure it contains up to date information for patients.
- Review arrangements for conducting health checks for vulnerable groups, such as patients with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice