15 April 2015
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Barmston Medical Centre on 15 April 2015. We inspected the main surgery at Barmston and the branch surgery at The Galleries Health Centre. The practice was rated as good for all domains and population groups.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. There were comprehensive safety systems in place.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified. All clinical staff had received safeguarding level three training.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. Data showed that patients rated the practice inline or just below the national averages for being caring. We saw that staff were considerate with patients, treated them with understanding and maintained confidentiality.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
- Most patients we spoke with and those who completed CQC comment cards indicated they felt they could obtain appointments, including urgent appointments, when needed.
- 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 the management team. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which they acted on.
However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
The provider should:
- Provide all staff with adult safeguarding training.
- Provide effective training for staff who carry out the role of chaperone.
- Improve systems and processes for fire safety.
- Implement systems to ensure that all patients with learning difficulties are offered regular health checks.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice