We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Lightwater Surgery on 19 December 2018 as part of our inspection programme. We had inspected the practice previously, in February 2016, where the practice had also been rated as Good.
We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:
- what we found when we inspected
- information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
- information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.
We have rated this practice as good overall and good for all population groups.
We found that:
- The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
- Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
- Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
- The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
- The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.
- Feedback from all 28 patient comment cards was continuously positive about the way staff treated them. Staff were said to go the extra mile and were patient focussed in all aspects of care.
- There was a strong ethos within the practice for community development and engagement work. The practice had arranged local talks for their patients and those people living in the vicinity.
Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:
- Improve the identification of carers to enable this group of patients to access the care and support they need.
- Review and continue to monitor cervical smear screening to meet Public Health England screening rates.
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice