Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mansfield Medical Centre on 12 July 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. We noted these were well documented and that thorough investigation took place.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed and these were well documented.
- Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained 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. Patients spoke highly of all the staff at the practice during our inspection, via the comment cards and in the patient survey. We saw evidence of acts of compassion and caring.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand and complaints were handled in a timely manner. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
- Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. The practice had an innovative colour coded system of appointment allocation.
- 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 and staff spoke positively regarding the support and leadership from management and the partners.
- The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
The areas where the provider should make improvement are:
- Consider introducing a system to notify the GP if prescriptions are not collected.
- Ensure verbal complaints are recorded.
- Ensure a robust system is in place to check fridge temperatures in the absence of regular staff.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice