This practice is rated as Good overall.
The key questions 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 inspection at Thornton practice on 16 October 2018 as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had systems to manage risk and to ensure that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When safety incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety. A risk register was in place and this was monitored and fed in to the provider’s risk register.
- Procedures to prevent the spread of infection were in place and regular Infection control and cleanliness audits were carried out.
- Systems were in place to deal with medical emergencies and staff were trained in basic life support.
- Clinicians assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance.
- Systems to review the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care provided were in place and being developed further.
- Clinical audits were carried out and the results of these were used to improve outcomes for patients.
- Data showed that outcomes for patients at this practice were similar to outcomes for patients locally and nationally.
- Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
- Staff told us they felt supported in their roles and with their professional development.
- Patients told us they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
- The provider learnt from complaints and made improvements to the service as a result.
- There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
- The provider had a clear vision to provide a safe, good quality service.
- Systems were in place to check on the quality of the service.
- There were systems in place for clinical governance and these were being further developed.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Review the newly introduced governance systems to ensure these are effective in monitoring the quality of the service provided and drive improvement.
- Review the system for monitoring patients taking high risk medicines to ensure this is consistent and fail safe.
- Review the arrangements for locum GPs for using equipment to assess patients.
- Address the infection control risk in one of the treatment rooms.
- Consider providing information in easy read formats to patients.
- Review the arrangements at reception for maintaining patients' privacy and confidentiality.
- Review the complaints process to ensure patients are provided with accurate information about what they can do if they are not satisfied with the handling of their complaint.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice