The Key Medical Practice Also known as Kidlington and Yarnton Medical Group

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

In February 2016, during an announced comprehensive inspection of The Key Medical Practice, we found issues relating to infection control auditing and monitoring of hygiene and cleanliness. This was assessed as being in breach of Health and Social Care Regulations 2008.

Following the inspection the provider sent us an action plan detailing how they were putting in place a package of measures to improve the ways it assessed, prevented, detected and controlled the risk of infection within the practice. These measures had been in development since the formation of the practice in October 2015, but had not been fully in place at the time of inspection.

We carried out a desktop review of The Key Medical Practice in September 2016 to ensure these changes had been implemented and that the service was meeting Regulations.

We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection in February 2016 and that it was meeting the Regulation relating to infection control auditing and hygiene monitoring that had previously been breached.

Specifically, the practice had implemented policies and protocols related to infection control, introduced new premises and equipment cleaning schedules, commenced a staff training programme, ensured that staff have the required immunity against infectious diseases, and started a cycle of six monthly infection control and cleaning audits.

The ratings for the practice have been updated to reflect our findings. This report should be read in conjunction with the full inspection report.

We found one area where the practice should continue to make improvements:

• Ensure that actions arising from infection control and cleaning audits are marked as completed or outstanding on follow-up audits.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Key Medical Practice on 3 February 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good. It requires improvement for providing safe services. The Key Medical Practice was formed when two practices merged in October 2015. As such national data used in this report from 2015 is relevant to the Kidlington Health Centre and does not relate to all patients’ care. Where possible we have used more recent data and experiences of patients in this report.

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.
• Systems to ensure the control of infection and standards of hygiene and cleanliness were not always effective.
• Medicines were managed safely.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• There was a system for monitoring patient care and treatment. Some national data indicators suggested improvements were needed in patient care but the practice had identified where and how to make improvements.
• 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.
• Patients said they could make an appointment with a GP but that the phone system had been difficult to use in recent months. The practice had identified this and implemented measures to improve phone access.
• The practice had facilities 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.
• Governance arrangements were in place for non-clinical aspects of the service.
• Training delivery for staff was in the process of being improved. Staff had the skills they needed to deliver care.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Implement infection control auditing and greater monitoring of hygiene and cleanliness. Implement any infection control guidance not being followed.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• continue to deliver staff training to those members of staff who have not received training in line with the practice’s own programme.
• Implement care plans for mental health patients

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice