Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Conner and Partners on 23 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good. The practice was rated as requires improvement for the safe domain and good for the effective, caring, responsive and well led domains.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- The practice investigated safety concerns when things went wrong and learning from these incidents was recognised, shared or acted on to minimise recurrences.
- The practice had policies and procedures in place to safeguard vulnerable children. Staff had undertaken training and understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to this.
- Some staff who carried out chaperone duties did not have Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks and a risk assessment had not been carried out to support this decision.
- Infection control procedures were being followed. Regular infection control audits were being carried out. However some staff had not undertaken infection control training. There was a legionella risk assessment in place. Staff told us that they had hepatitis B vaccinations / immunity. However not all staff files included evidence of this.
- All equipment was routinely checked, serviced and calibrated in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- There were risk assessments in place for areas including fire safety, infection control, health and safety, premises and equipment.
- There was a detailed business continuity plan in place to deal with any untoward incidents which may disrupt the running of the practice.
- The practice had a recruitment procedure. Checks including proof of identity and references were obtained and newly employed staff undertook a period of role specific induction. However Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks had not been undertaken for some relevant staff.
- Medicines were stored securely and there were systems in place to check they were in date and available in sufficient quantities.
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Clinical audits were carried out routinely to monitor and improve outcomes for patients.
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There were procedures in place to ensure that patients had regular medicines reviews where they were prescribed medicines on a long term basis or where they were prescribed high risk medicines.
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Patients consent to care and treatment was sought in line with current legislation and guidance.
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Patients were treated with dignity and respect and those spoken with were happy with the care and treatment they received.
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The practice identified some patients who were carers and offered them appropriate support.
- Same day urgent appointments or telephone consultations and home visits were available. Patients spoken with told us they were satisfied with the appointment system.
- The practice did not offer early morning or late evening appointments. However weekend appointments were available.
- Complaints were investigated and responded to appropriately and apologies given where relevant. Information about the complaints system was not readily available for patients to access.
- The practice had suitable facilities and equipment to treat patients and meet their needs.
- There was a leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
- The practice sought and used patient’s comments and views to review and improve the services provided where needed.
There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
Importantly the provider must:
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Ensure that staff carrying out chaperone duties have received a disclosure and barring service check or that a risk assessment is in place to show why one is not required.
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Ensure that recruitment procedures are effective and follow published guidance.
Additionally the provider should:
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Review staff records so that they include evidence that staff have been vaccinated / have immunity against Hepatitis B.
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Review the arrangements for staff training so that staff undertake relevant, periodic training updates.
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Review the arrangements for making the complaints procedure and information available to patients.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice