9 June 2016
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the Fens Medical Centre on 9 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
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Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised. However we found that on three occasions the fridge temperature was above the recommended temperature and no reason or action had been recorded.
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There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events referred to in the practice as critical incidents.
- Risks to patients were assessed and 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. The practice promoted a no blame culture and encouraged staff to raise concerns and possible risks.
- The majority of 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.
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Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive.
- 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.
In addition the provider should:
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The practice should assure themselves that they have process in place to ensure that the fridge temperatures are monitored and vaccines are stored at the correct temperatures.
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Address the infection control issues identified during the inspection
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice