Shirehampton Group Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the Shirehampton Group Practice on 16 February 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.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. For example, with early assessment of home visit requests, and a high visiting rate. Routine home visiting started before 11am facilitating earlier admissions to hospital if needed or referral to other services.
• 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.

• Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive.

• 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 found it easy to make an appointment with a GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice reviewed frequent attenders to better understand their needs and to plan their care. They provided regular appointments with a named GP in order to address their needs.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• They had engaged with the local community and arranged an educational session for teenagers with learning disabilities to promote greater understanding of GPs and what happen during a visit to the doctor.
• 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 areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure the recruitment documentation held is fully compliant with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

• Ensure the complaint procedure is fully implemented and learning from these events is disseminated through and implemented by the practice.

• Review governance arrangements so that processes and systems are monitored for effectiveness, for example, review of actions from meetings, GP buddy arrangements and prescription records.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice