Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Mahmud & Partners 10 August 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. Lessons learnt were shared to make sure action was taken to improve safety in the practice.
- The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
- Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance.
- Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect. However some aspects of GP interactions with patients and access to care and treatment were rated below the local and national averages. Despite the improvements implemented since the last national GP patient survey these improvements had not filtered through in positive patient responses in the latest 2017 national GP patient survey.
- 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.
- Six out of eight patients we spoke with said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
- The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
- There was a 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 saw one area of outstanding practice:
A dedicated GP provided pre diabetic care and proactively managed medicine compliance and diabetes reviews regularly through reminder letters, phone calls or text messages. This work had resulted in targeted management of patients with diabetes, for example good control in blood glucose readings of patients with diabetes. This GP also provided training for GPs and nurses to raise the standards of diabetes care and to provide individualised care for patients. The training is called the EDEN project (Effective Diabetes Education Now). The GP had published a paper in a health journal about management of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes and had contributed to a section about when to intensify glucose lowering therapy in the prescribing reference guide (MIMS) for general practice. Their contribution to diabetic care was recognised by the Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as a model for use within the wider local health community.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
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Undertake an annual infection control audit.
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Continue to identify and support carers.
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Continue to monitor and ensure improvement in patient satisfaction as highlighted in the areas identified by the national GP patient survey.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice