Archived: Dr D Varma

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr D Varma on 20 October 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• The practice should take steps to ensure that safety checks of electrical equipment are carried out regularly.
• The practice should consider reviewing its complaints process to ensure that all complaints are being recorded, including those made verbally, so that trends and patterns can be identified and learning points can be used to bring about improvements.

• The practice should continue to pro-actively identify and support patients who are also carers.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice