19 January 2017
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Ammar Ahmad on 19 January 2017. 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.
- The practice undertook appropriate recruitment checks including references and professional registration checks.
- The practice had a comprehensive business continuity plan in place for major incidents.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
- Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and 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.
- The practice offered extended hours appointments, including weekend appointments through the Watford Care Alliance.
The areas where the provider should improvements are:
- Continue to identify and support carers in their patient population.
- Ensure improvement to childhood immunisations and cervical screening rates.
- Continue to monitor and ensure improvement to the results from the national GP patient survey.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice