Archived: GeneralMedicalServices Ltd Also known as Five Towns GP Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at GeneralMedicalServices Ltd (Five Towns GP Surgery) on 29 June 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.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Most 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 proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

The practice reached out to the local community to provide information on living healthier lifestyles. For example:

• The practice was sensitive to the cultural needs of patients. Information was provided on how to manage diabetes during Ramadan. They also raised awareness of how to minimise the emergence of Vitamin D deficiency whilst remaining respectful to cultural belief and practise.

• Annual health events for the community were arranged during Eid. The practice and PPG arranged events which were open to the whole community. Information and advice was provided on topics such as the methods and importance of breast screening, blood pressure and body mass index checks. The event identified patients that required further assessment which included patients that did not receive their individual care at the practice.

• The advanced nurse practitioner provided asthma information sessions to children at two local primary schools. The importance of having individual asthma plans in place in the school setting was discussed with the teaching staff. This was part of a wider practice initiative to improve the outcomes of patients with asthma.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice