Archived: Aldersbrook Medical Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Aldersbrook Medical Centre on 16 November 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• Results of the national GP patient survey showed that the practice was performing below local and national averages in some areas.
• Some patients said they did not find it easy to make an appointment with a GP but there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice had identified less than 1% of patients as having caring responsibilities.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• 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.
• 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 sought feedback from staff and patients.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Continue to monitor and work to improve patient outcomes in QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) to improve patient outcomes.

• Review the cleaning arrangements of the practice to ensure they are sufficient to maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

• Review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the patient record system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to all.

• Continue to take action to improve the availability of appointments in response to patient feedback.

• Display the practice mission statement so that staff and patients are aware of the practice’ overarching purpose.

• Monitor quality and outcomes framework (QOF) exception reporting and work to improve patient outcomes in QOF.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice