Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Blackwell Medical Centre on 14 January 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.
- 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.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- The practice proactively sought to educate their patients to manage their medical conditions and improve their wellbeing, assisted by having additional in house services available on a regular basis, some of which were funded and supported by the practice. These included visiting physiotherapist, citizen’s advice worker, counsellor and well-being worker.
- Information about services and how to complain was available. The practice sought patient’s views about improvements that could be made to the service directly and through an active patient participation group.
- Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
- 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.
We saw areas of outstanding practice:
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice