Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
This is a focused inspection of Knowsley Medical Centre for two areas within the key question safe.
We found the practice to be good in providing safe services. Overall, the practice is rated as good.
The practice was previously inspected on 27 May 2015. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection, the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, two areas were identified as requiring improvement, as the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time:
- Regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment. 1. Care and treatment must be provided in a safe way for service users. 2. Without limiting paragraph (1), the things which a registered person must do to comply with that paragraph include—e. ensuring that the equipment used by the service provider for providing care or treatment to a service user is safe for such use and is used in a safe way;
- We noted checks had not been carried out on portable electrical equipment and the calibration of medical equipment was over 12 months out of date.
- Regulation 19 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed:
- People who use services and others were not protected against the risks associated with poor recruitment procedures.
During the inspection on 17 November 2016 the practice showed us evidence which demonstrated they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 12 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.
The practice also provided evidence of other improvements made following our previous inspection including:
- An improved system for inviting at risk patients to attend for annual flu vaccinations
- A systematic approach is in place to ensuring the national QOF outcomes are achieved including those for diabetic patients.
- An improved system is in place for managing medicines and consumables such as needles to ensure there is sufficient stock and all stock is in date.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice