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Archived: Hopwood House Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Hopwood House, The Vineyard, Lees Road, Oldham, Lancashire, OL4 1JN (0161) 628 3628

Provided and run by:
Hopwood House Medical Practice

All Inspections

8 March 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Hopwood Medical Practice for areas within the key question safe that required improvement following our full comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. At that inspection on 26 February 2016, the practice was rated good overall. However, within the key question safe, there were areas identified as requiring improvement, as the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time. The areas where the provider was told they must make improvements were as follows :

  • Regulation 17 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Good governance The registered person did not do all that was reasonably practicable to mitigate risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of service users and others who may be at risk. This was in breach of regulation 17 (1) (2) (a) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Actions required following a fire risk assessment had not been completed. Significant events were not always recorded at the time they occurred and there was no analysis of significant events to ensure they were not repeated.

  • Regulation 19 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed The registered person did not ensure all staff were of good character or were registered with the relevant professional body. This was in breach of regulation 19 (1) (a) (4) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check had not been carried out on all clinicians prior to them starting work. The professional registration of clinicians was not routinely checked.

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Hopwood House Medical Practice for the areas of improvement identified within the key question safe. We received and assessed documentation to evidence that the practice had carried out their plan and now met the required level in relation to breaches in Regulation 17 and 19.

The overall rating for the practice remains as good. Our key findings were as follows:

  • A Legionella Risk Assessment was completed on 16 March 2016

  • Actions relating to fire safety were carried out. Health and safety checks were undertaken. The provider should ensure that all staff complete health and safety training at required intervals.

  • The significant event policy was updated and significant events were dealt with appropriately and reviewed to ensure learning was achieved.

  • The recruitment policy was updated to ensure that all appropriate documentation and checks of professional registration were obtained prior to employment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

26/02/2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Hopwood House Medical Practice on 26/02/2016. 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, although the recording and analysis of significant events required improvement.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had 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.
  • Most patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a GP and that 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.

We saw areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice had a supply of easy read leaflets available to help explain tests and treatment to some patients, for example those with a learning disability.

  • The practice was proactive in trialling new technology. This included consultations by video conference call and electronic access to the computer system by clinicians while on home visits.

  • The practice had devised a ‘One Oldham Care Plan’ to meet the needs of a variety of patients, for example those receiving end of life care or those with dementia. This combined several care plans to make the system more streamlined and easy to understand by all agencies involved in the care of the patient.

  • A congratulations card was sent to new parents when their baby was born. This also gave information such as important dates for childhood vaccinations.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • The provider must complete the required actions following the fire risk assessment carried out in September 2015.

  • The provider must accurately record significant events in a timely manner, and analyse significant events to ensure they are not repeated.

  • The provider must ensure all relevant staff, including clinicians, have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to starting work. They must also ensure all clinicians are registered with the appropriate professional body.

In addition the provider should:

  • Arrange for a legionella risk assessment to be carried out, and then carry out regular appropriate checks if needed.

  • Have a named health and safety representative and fire warden that is known to all staff.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice