Archived: Dr Javier Oscar Salerno

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Dr Javier Oscar Salerno is a small GP practice based in Croydon. The practice provides primary care services to 3,300 patients. We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 06 October 2014.

During this inspection we inspected the Parkway Health Centre, which is a satellite location. The practice has a branch surgery; Gravel Hill Surgery which was not inspected.

Key Findings;

Overall the practice is rated as good. However improvements are required for safe because reception staff acting as chaperones did not have Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. However risks to patients were assessed and well managed and there were enough staff to keep people safe.

The practice used evidence based care with reference to guidance from organisations such as National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current legislation.

The practice provided support to its patients during periods of bereavement.  Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in care and treatment decisions. The practice had a Patient Participation Group (PPG).The PPG members told us that the practice worked closely with them and their views were taken on board.

The practice reviewed the needs of their local population and engaged with the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to secure service improvements where these were identified.

We found that the practice had a clear vision and strategy to deliver care. Staff were clear about the vision and their responsibilities in relation to this. There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.

Importantly, the provider must:

Ensure that reception staff acting as chaperones have current Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS) Reg 21.

Action the provider should take to improve:

Introduce online appointments booking system to enable patients to request appointments flexibly.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice