Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out a previous announced inspection of this practice on 23 February 2016. Overall, we rated the practice as good. However, a breach of legal requirement was found. This related to a failure to maintain the cold-chain for medicines requiring refrigeration. Also, some medicines had not been securely stored. After the comprehensive inspection the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to address the breach we identified.
We undertook this announced focussed inspection, on 17 August 2016, to check that the practice had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Coquet Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Our key findings were as follows:
The provider had complied with the requirement notice we set following our last inspection visit. In particular, we found:
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Improvements had been made to the arrangements for monitoring vaccines. These included improved stock control arrangements and the use of appropriate validated cool boxes to transport vaccines. The provider had introduced an effective system which ensured that daily vaccine temperature checks were consistently carried out. Improved record keeping meant staff were able to demonstrate when vaccines were stored at the recommended temperature, and that they had taken appropriate action when they were not. Staff had received training to help maintain the improvements introduced.
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Action had been taken which ensured that all medicines kept at the practice were securely stored, to prevent unauthorised access.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice