Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 4 May 2016. The practice was rated as good overall and requires improvement for the delivery of responsive services.
During our inspection we found a breach of legal requirements relating to access to the service. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us, to say what they would do to meet the legal requirements in relation to meeting Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Good Governance.
We undertook this desk based focused inspection on the 15 December 2016 to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met the legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements and should be read in conjunction with the full report. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Sixways Clinic on our website at www.cqc.org.uk. We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection on 4 May 2016 and they were meeting the regulation that had previously been breached.
Specifically the practice had reviewed their appointment and telephone systems to ensure these were more accessible to patients. This included:
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Providing additional routine appointments daily.
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Seeking feedback from the patient participation group and implementing their suggestions.
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Changing the way patients could book afternoon appointments.
Additionally, the practice had:
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Worked with the clinical commissioning group to create a patient survey relating specifically to access to appointments.
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Reviewed their procedures on prescription pad monitoring and implemented systems and processes to ensure the security and monitoring of prescription pads including handwritten pads were maintained.
The practice also told us they were in the process of reviewing their telephone system with the current provider and were also looking at what other providers could offer.
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