Archived: Newnham and Westbury Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of Newnham and Westbury Surgery on 5 May 2016. We found that the practice had breached a regulation relating to the safe delivery of services. Overall the practice was rated as good.

The practice required improvement for the provision of safe services to ensure that the risks associated with checking, maintaining and safely storing emergency equipment and medicines had been appropriately assessed. The practice also needed to implement a system to identify, assess and mitigate risks arising from cross infection this included the requirement to complete an infection control risk assessment required by the relevant code of practice.

Following the inspection the provider sent us an action plan detailing how they would improve the emergency equipment and infection control management systems ensuring they reflect national guidelines.

We carried out a desktop inspection of Newnham and Westbury Surgery on 7 September 2016 to ensure these changes had been implemented and the service was meeting the regulations previously breached. For this reason we have only rated the location for the key question to which this related. This report should be read in conjunction with the full inspection report from 5 May 2016. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Newnham and Westbury Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection on 5 May 2016 and they were meeting the regulations that had previously been breached.

Specifically the practice was operating safe systems in relation to emergency equipment and infection control management systems. This included:

• The practice had reviewed their systems for checking and storing emergency medicines and equipment and had implemented new processes. The practice had replaced the equipment previously noted to have been out of date.

• The practice had improved infection control management by undertaking infection control audit training and completing infection control audits for both Newnham and Westbury practices.
• Both of the improvements above were discussed at a practice meeting and minuted for all team members’ awareness.

We have changed the rating for this practice to reflect these changes. The practice is now rated good for the provision of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Newnham and Westbury Surgeries on 5 May 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.
• 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 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.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• Implement and undertake an infection control audit for assessing and monitoring risks associated with infection control, undertaking any relevant actions as required.

• Establish and operate an effective system to check, manage and mitigate the risks associated with the emergency equipment.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

• Ensure actions are taken to improve patient satisfaction on access to the service.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice