Archived: Sidings Healthcare Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Sidings Healthcare Centre on 25 April 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Nursing staff told us that they held a regular ‘journal club’ to review nursing articles. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events. We saw evidence that the reporting and discussion of these events had improved. The provider had identified that previously staff had not recorded low level concerns but this was now being encouraged and supported by the team.

• We reviewed 32 patient comment cards completed prior to our inspection. All of the comments received were exceptionally positive about the services provided.

• Results from the national GP patient survey (published July 2016), noted that patients had struggled to get an appointment or access their preferred GP, however the views of patients we spoke with on the day did not align with this.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• A monthly meeting was held between the lead GP for safeguarding and the Health Visitor where concerns regarding children were discussed.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff, patients and the patient participation group (PPG) which it acted on.
• The practice was positively embedded into the local community and liaised regularly with the local mosque, local leaders, community staff and the PPG. GPs at the practice would meet regularly with the Imans from the local mosques who would promote health promotion and health screening within their congregation.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• The provider should review and consider the necessary immunisations for healthcare staff and be able to demonstrate that an effective employee immunisation programme is in place.
• The provider should review their arrangements for the identification of carers to assure themselves that they are identifying them effectively and are able to offer them the appropriate support.
• The provider should review the numbers of patients undergoing screening for cancer related illnesses and be able to assure themselves that the appropriate numbers of people are accessing these services. For example, breast, bowel and cervical screening uptake.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice