24 May 2019
During a routine inspection
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Forest Practice 24 June 2019 to follow up on breaches of regulations. CQC inspected the service on 1 May 2018 and asked the provider to make improvements regarding breach of Regulation 17 (Good governance) and Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We checked these areas as part of this comprehensive inspection and found all of the previous concerns had been resolved, but some new concerns under Regulation 17 (Good governance) Health and Social Care Act 2008 were identified.
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.
- Systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety were generally effective.
- 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 practice had a clear vision and positive working culture, some systems had weaknesses that staff immediately remedied, including safety alerts and elements of recruitment or induction for some staff.
Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:
- Review and improve systems to ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients, including staff’s early recognition of signs and symptoms of sepsis.
- Review the recruitment and induction process, such as to ensure locums clinicians induction, working agreements, and occupational health considerations are embedded and formalised.
- Review and improve arrangements systems to ensure management staff and staff at all levels receive appropriate dementia awareness training.
- Review and improve systems for safety alerts.
- Review and evaluate systems to ensure patients see the most appropriate clinician without delay.
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.
Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care