Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at on Tuesday 01 March 2016. Overall the practice is 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. Chronic disease was managed well, for example, the care of people with diabetes.
The practice worked closely with other organisations and with the local community in planning how services were provided to ensure that they meet people’s needs.liaised with the NHS screening programme. The screening was facilitated by the practice and patients from neighboring practices were also offered access to screening at Knowle Surgery
There were six care homes in the practice area. There was a named GP for each home to ensure continuity of care. Two GPs undertook twice weekly ward rounds within one of the larger homes, staff at the home communicated directly with those GPs, to provide proactive and personalized care.
Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
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.
Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP and that there was 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 staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice