- GP practice
Archived: The Simpson Centre
Important:
This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile
All Inspections
We have not revisited the practice as part of this review because the practice was able to demonstrate that they were meeting the regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 without the need for a visit.
During an inspection looking at part of the service
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
At our previous comprehensive inspection at The Simpson Centre in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire on 14 September 2016 we found a breach of regulations relating to the provision of safe services. The overall rating for the practice was good. Specifically, the practice was rated requires improvement for the provision of safe services and good for the provision of effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. The full comprehensive report on the September 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Simpson Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was a desk-based review carried out on 19 April 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection in September 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
We found the practice had made improvements since our last inspection. Using information provided we found the practice was now meeting the regulations that had previously been breached. We have amended 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.
Our key findings were as follows:
- The practice including the branch surgery in Penn (also in Buckinghamshire) had established and was now operating safe and effective systems to assess, manage and mitigate the risks identified relating to fire safety, electrical installation and legionella.
- A system had been introduced to improve the security of prescription stationary. For example, all clinical rooms had been fitted with key coded locks and prescriptions were now locked away in a cupboard overnight to prevent unauthorised access to blank and completed prescription forms.
- Further steps had been taken steps to assist patients with hearing difficulties. The broken aid to assist patients with hearing difficulties had been removed and the practice had received quotes for two brand new hearing loops. Until installation, one of the managers within the practice had completed a basic sign language and communication for hearing impaired course. This had been cascaded to all practice staff during a training afternoon.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice
14 September 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Simpson Centre on 14 September 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.
- The practice did not have up to date risk assessments for fire, electrical installation or legionella.
- The risk of leaving blank prescriptions accessible in unlocked consulting rooms, or blank and completed prescriptions within patient reach at reception had not identified.
- Other 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.
We saw one area of outstanding practice:
The Simpson Centre had undertaken a sip feed project, funded by the local clinical commissioning group but led by the practice, at a local care home, to improve the nutrition of residents by replacing the use of sip feeds (prescribed oral nutritional supplements) with homemade equivalents. The work was undertaken with the support of a pharmacist and dietician, to provide training for kitchen and care staff, and to educate the practice team in the Food First approach to managing malnutrition and dehydration. As a result, the cost of sip feed prescribing reduced by about £8,000, the practice adopted the Food First approach as a priority for all elderly patients with nutrition and hydration concerns, and the care home provider implemented the approach at all its homes in the UK.
The areas where the provider must make improvement are:
- Ensure that risk assessments are completed for fire, electrical installation and legionella at both surgeries.
- Ensure the security of blank prescriptions whenever consulting rooms are left unattended, and the security of blank and completed prescriptions in the reception area.
In addition, the provider should:
- Ensure that equipment to assist patients with hearing difficulties is available at both surgeries, and that staff are able to operate it, when required.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice