This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating March 2016 – Good)
The key questions at this inspection are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? - Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Rowan Tree Practice on 2 August 2018 as part of our inspection programme.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
- There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
We saw one area of outstanding practice:
The building that the practice was located in was destroyed in a large fire in July 2017. Through strong team work and by working with external stakeholders the practice provided a basic service to their patients for the first 48 hours following the fire. A full service was provided by the practice based in a local community hospital for six months before moving back to the original location in temporary modular buildings. The practice worked to ensure that a service was provided to patients throughout this period minimising impact to patients and staff. Feedback we received from patients praised the practice for the service provided following the fire.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Review and improved the recording of significant events.
- Review and improve the overview system for monitoring patients prescribed high risk medicines.
- Review and implement a system for recording checks of emergency medicines.
- Review and improve how results for cervical smears are managed.
- Review and improve the system for how patients, experiencing learning difficulties, are reviewed.
- Consider the meeting structure to improve opportunities for the nursing team to attend meetings.
- Consider and improve options for viewing the outcomes of risk assessments undertaken on behalf of the landlord within an appropriate timescale.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice
Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.