This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating July 2015 – Good)
The key questions at this inspection are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? - Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive at Southernhay House Surgery on 21 November 2018 as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice recognised where systems and processes had worked well and improved their processes where appropriate.
- The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
- The practice offered a “yellow card” prescribing system for vulnerable patients who were unable to order prescriptions for themselves. A patient deemed suitable for the system had their medicines written up weekly/monthly on their clinical record. Their medicines were then written on a yellow card kept in reception. One of the yellow card administration team had a weekly task of generating prescriptions for these patients and sending them onwards to the relevant pharmacy.
- There was a strong focus on continuous learning, improvement and involvement at all levels of the organisation.
- Staff feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Staff acknowledged that the practice was a busy place to work but added that it was a good place to work and added that communication was effective.
- The practice was working to increase the numbers in its patient participation group to further engage with the patients.
- Governance arrangements were well established and effective at the practice. Online spreadsheets were used to monitor and alert staff to medicines and equipment expiry dates and trends occurring from surveys and other forms of feedback.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Review systems to monitor mental health and diabetes outcomes for patients.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice