Archived: The Nuffield Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Nuffield Practice on 22 August 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good. Our key findings were as follows:

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

• There was a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Reviews of complaints, incidents and other learning events were thorough.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. However, there were issues with the organisation of emergency medicines.
• Staff assessed patients’ ongoing needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• National data suggested patients received appropriate care for long term conditions.
• The practice planned its services based on the needs and demographic of its patient population.
• Staff were trained in order 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• However, feedback from the national GP survey was not fully considered and responded to.
• Patient feedback in CQC comment cards suggested patients felt staff were caring and considerate.
• 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.

We found one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice’s uptake for the cervical screening programme was 92%, which was higher when compared to the national average of 82%.

Areas the provider should make improvements are:

• Ensure all emergency medicines are easily accessible to staff.
• Review the process and levels of exception reporting to ensure as many patients as possible are included in reviews and treatment in line with national guidance.
• Continue to undertake infection control audits in the frequency suggested by national guidance.
• The provider should consider acting on feedback from patients and evaluate poor feedback on waiting times and consultations from the national survey in respect of the processing of such information towards improvement.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice