Archived: Victoria Road Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

GOOD

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Victoria Road Surgery on 30 June 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Please note that when referring to information throughout this report, for example any reference to the Quality and Outcomes Framework data, this relates to the most recent information available to the CQC at that time.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded and monitored and evidence of analysis and shared learning was seen.

• Most risks to patients were assessed and well managed although some risk assessments such as those for the control of substances hazardous to health were not available at the practice.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. We found staff had received training appropriate to their roles although some training such as fire training had not been completed. However, the practice had identified and planned further training needs.

• Patients we spoke with and those patients who provided feedback through comments cards said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and that they felt involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• Information about services and how to complain was documented in the practice leaflet and patients we spoke with were aware of the process to follow if they wished to make a complaint.

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP although they had to wait a long time to be seen. We found that the practice had made changes to try and reduce appointment waiting times. The practice provided 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 we found staff were very motivated and felt supported by management. The practice sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

However there were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements:

• Ensure that checks on whether emergency medicines are within their expiry date and suitable for use are consistently recorded.

• Ensure all staff have received training such as fire training and infection control training updates.

• Ensure risk assessments are in place for the control of substances hazardous to health.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice