Archived: St Augustines Medical Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

In January 2016 a comprehensive inspection of St Augustines Medical Practice was conducted. The practice was rated as requires improvement for safe and good for effective, caring, responsive and well led. Overall the practice was rated as good. During that inspection we found concerns related to the management of blank prescription security and the systems in place to monitor this risk. The practice also needed to ensure all action was taken to mitigate risks in relation to fire evacuation procedures. The report setting out the findings of the inspection was published in April 2016. Following the inspection we asked the practice to provide an action plan detailing how they would improve on the areas of concern.

We visited the practice and carried out an announced focused inspection of St Augustines Medical Practice on 10 August 2016 to ensure the changes the practice told us they would make had been implemented and to apply an updated rating.

We found the practice had made significant improvement since our last inspection on 27 January 2016. At this inspection we rated the practice as good for providing safe services. The overall rating for the practice remains good. 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 of 27 January 2016.

At this inspection we found:

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

• Systems were in place to monitor and ensure the security of blank prescriptions.

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 St Augustines Medical Practice on 27 January 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 except for those in relation to prescription security, ensuring disclosure and baring checks are in place for chaperones, and completing regular fire evacuation drills.
• 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.
• Patient’s individual social and emotional needs and preferences were part of the decisions about care and treatment options.
• The practice identified patients who may be in need of extra support.
• These included patients in the last 12 months of their lives, carers and the cared for, those at risk of developing a long-term condition and those requiring advice on their diet, smoking and alcohol cessation and patients who have been recently bereaved or experienced an event which may make them in need of extra support. 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.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that 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.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels.
• There was a high level of constructive engagement with staff and a high level of staff satisfaction.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

Ensure the safety and security of prescriptions.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

Ensure all action is taken to mitigate risks in relation to fire evacuation procedures.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice