The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Dr Senathirajah Sellappah

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

25 Mill Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 1HW (01322) 332455

Provided and run by:
Dr Senathirajah Sellappah

All Inspections

28 September 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice​

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the surgery of Dr Senathirajah Sellappah on Wednesday 28 September 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 been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • The practice had identified ten patients as carers (0.4% of the practice list).
  • 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.
  • 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 with a named GP and there was continuity of care with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • 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 sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on. A meeting of the Patient Participation Group had not taken place in the 18 months preceding the inspection. However the practice had booked a PPG meeting to take place four weeks after the inspection.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

There were areas where the provider should make improvements.

  • The provider should consider proactive strategies to encourage patients to join the patient participation group (PPG) and to re-establish regular meetings of the group.
  • The provider should review how patients with caring responsibilities are identified and recorded on the clinical system to ensure information, advice and support is made available to all carers on the practice list.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

30 August 2013

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with were generally happy with the treatment they received from the surgery. One person told us "I don't mind who I see as I am very happy with the care I have from this practice" and another described the care they received as "very good and I can always get an appointment, I have had several referrals to hospital as my history is very complicated but things are always sorted out very quickly". We found that most people felt listened to by the GP's, nurses and the reception staff at the practice; although one person did say that they occasionally had communication problems with the GP. People said they were able to get through on the telephone and get an appointment either the same day or the next day. People also felt the redecoration of the premises was a great improvement and one person said 'the surgery looks lovely and bright and is very well managed'

Most people felt their personal information was kept private and they were treated with respect by all staff. They were able to discuss any matters privately if they wished to but reception staff did not ask personal questions at the reception desk. People said they were not aware of being able to hear telephone conversations as there was a glass screen separating the reception staff from the waiting area.

We found that people were consulted with and involved in their care in most cases and that people's needs were assessed and care was planned in a way that met these needs. The practice had taken steps to ensure only suitable people were employed at the practice. There were robust child protection procedures in place and staff had been trained in both child and adult safeguarding procedures. The practice had systems in place to ensure the quality of the service and medicine management was maintained.