All inspections: Sackville Medical Centre

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 17 June 2015. Breaches of legal requirements were found in relation to the safe management of medicines, the cleaning of equipment and assessing the risk of legionella. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements. We undertook this focused inspection on 14 January 2016 to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

Our key findings across the areas we inspected for this focused inspection were as follows:-

Arrangements were now in place to ensure that medicines were stored securely at all times
Blank prescription forms were handled in line with current national guidance.
A comprehensive assessment had been undertaken to detect the risk of legionella and action had been taken to mitigate identified risks.
Cleaning schedules were in place for equipment and toys kept in the treatment rooms and regular spot checks were undertaken.
An up to date audit of infection control had been undertaken and the practice had plans in place for these to be repeated very six months.
All GP records were now held centrally and we saw evidence to show that all GPs had completed level 3 training on safeguarding children.

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 Sackville Medical Centre on 17 June 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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 all of the population groups. It required improvement for providing safe services.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

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.
Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to the safe storage of medicines.
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.
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 generally 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 adequate facilities and was 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.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider must;

Ensure medicines are stored securely at all times.
Ensure there is a cleaning schedule and documented record for all clinical equipment and toys kept in treatment rooms.
Ensure risk assessments are undertaken for the risk of legionella and the use of a mercury sphygmomanometer.
Ensure the audit process for prescription pads is monitored and effective.

The provider should:

Ensure GP training records are held centrally and incorporated into the practice training management system.
Ensure all GPs are trained to level 3 safeguarding and that the practice maintains a record of all GP mandatory training.
Maintain regular infection control audits so that improvements over time are recorded.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice

We spoke with nine patients including three from the practice participation group. We spoke with the practice manager (called manager in this report), two receptionists, three GP's and a nurse. We observed the medical centre in operation and looked at policies and other records to help us understand how the practice was run.

We found that people's privacy and dignity were respected. A patient told us, 'Nothing is spoken loudly.'

We saw that patients had access to information to help them make choices and were given sufficient time to make decisions. A patient said, 'I have found them all to be really helpful. The doctor was behind schedule, but you don't feel rushed.' There was an active participation group that enabled patients to influence the running of the practice.

Patient records were fit for purpose and there were systems for ensuring care was safe. Patients were satisfied with the care provided. A patient said, 'They have been a really sound GP practice for the family. We have had really good family care and follow up.' Another patient reported, 'The doctors are exemplary.'

People were cared for in a clean and hygienic environment. We saw that staff adhered to national guidance to prevent and control infection. A patient said, 'There is no thing here which you could claim would cause cross infection.'

We found checks were made to ensure staff were qualified to do their jobs and appropriate background checks were made before staff started work.

The practice had robust policies and systems to ensure and monitor the quality and safety of the service.

Archived: Sackville Medical Centre

All Inspections

14 January 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

17 June 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

4 February 2014

During a routine inspection