Archived: City Health Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at City Health Centre on 16 February 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, with a central reporting system to head office.
• The practice had a strong emphasis on safeguarding and protecting the most vulnerable patients.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with extra support to support the complex needs best suited to a city centre population.
• 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.
• Patients said they found it very easy to make an appointment and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. However patients found the telephone system poor.
• 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.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice:

• The practice was open 8am -8pm, seven days per week for patients, with the practice providing its emergency service for their patients.
• The practice supported the community and visited the Manchester homeless centre where free flu vaccinations and hygiene packs were provided to the homeless. They also provided a daily drop in appointment session to the homeless.
• The practice supported and visited the local LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) centre to offer health checks and other services. The practice supports a high number of LGBT patients and works at the local LGBT centre where they offer free advice and health checks.

The areas where the provider should make improvements by :

• Healthcare assistant should receive more formal training around infection control, to maintain the role effectively.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice