Archived: The Park Group Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the Park Group Practice on 9 November 2016. 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 an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Most risks to patients were assessed and well managed; however, we found fire alarms were not being tested and some staff had not undergone training in in fire safety, health and safety, infection prevention and control, basic life support or information governance.
• Not all clinical staff had appropriate medical indemnity insurance in place at the time of the inspection.
• Patient Group Directions (PGDs) relating to travel vaccinations were out of date although the practice had put additional measures in place until this could be resolved.
• An induction checklist was in place for newly recruited staff; however, these were not always being completed.

• The partners acknowledged that they struggled to offer a sufficient number of appointments to meet the demands of their patient population, and were trying to address this through the introduction of, for example, the walk in clinic and the services accessible though the Hub. They were also trying to recruit additional GPs.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
• 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.
• Patients said they sometimes found it difficult to get an appointment.
• 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.
• The practice had identified 132 patients as carers, but this represented just 1.7% of the practice list.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Ensure staff undergo training appropriate to their role, including fire safety, basic life support and infection prevention and control.

• Regularly test fire alarms to ensure they are in working order.

• Ensure all clinical staff have appropriate medical indemnity insurance in place, and if they do not they should not be permitted to work until it is in place.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Complete induction checklists for all new staff.

• Review the risk assessment in relation to chaperones and Disclosure and Barring checks, and explicitly consider and record reasonable risks and scenarios within the risk assessment.

• Continue efforts to obtain up to date PGDs.

• Take appropriate steps to identify patients who are also carers to allow the practice to provide support and suitable signposting.

• Continue to seek ways to increase the number of available appointments for patients, including the recruitment of an additional GP.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice