This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating September 2015 – Good)
The key questions at this inspection are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Outstanding
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? - Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Leven and Beeford Medical Practice on 24 April 2018 as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
- There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
We saw several areas of outstanding practice:
- The practice arranged a twice weekly taxi service to bring patients living in rural villages to the practice for their appointments.
- The funding for a wound management clinic had been removed from the practice and the clinic changed to another location. However, the practice continued to offer this service as an unfunded service to provide patients with a service closer to home.
- The number of patients on the practice palliative care register who died in their preferred place was significantly higher than the national average. Over the past four years 60% of patients had died in their preferred place compared to the local CCG and national average of 23%.
The area where the provider should make improvements are:
- Take action so that dispensary standard operating procedures and PGDs are signed by all staff using them.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP Chief Inspector of General Practice