Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We inspected Hopwood Medical Centre on the 4 February 2015 as part of our comprehensive inspection programme. This was the practice’s first inspection by CQC under its new methodology.
Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for the older people, people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people (including those recently retired and students, people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
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Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
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Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
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Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
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Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
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Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
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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.
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The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
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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.
We saw several areas of outstanding practice including:
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The practice worked closely with the local community to promote health awareness.
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There was an active programme of clinical audits at the practice. A review of eight audits demonstrated that the practice was both proactive and successful in achieving positive outcomes for patients.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice