Archived: The Eastry Surgery

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Eastry Surgery on 11 August 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 for reporting and recording significant events.
• Most risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff were experienced and had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge 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.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

The practice manager maintained an “at risk” register for the most vulnerable patients. In addition, recent hospital discharges and Accident & Emergency attendances were reviewed for this group on a daily basis, and patients contacted to check on their wellbeing or current needs post discharge or hospital attendance.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

The provider must ensure that staff who are used as chaperones are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks, or there is a risk assessment recording why such checks are not necessary.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice