England’s Chief Inspector of General Practice has welcomed improvements in the quality of services provided by Dr Imran Haq at Firs Surgery in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.
In March 2015, inspectors identified concerns with regard to the effectiveness of the practice. As a result the practice was given an overall rating of Inadequate and placed into special measures.
The latest inspection which took place in July 2016 concluded the practice had addressed all areas of concern. It has now been awarded an overall rating of Good across all five areas.
A full report of the latest inspection has been published on this website.
Inspectors found that since the original inspection the practice had taken significant steps to improve leadership, with a focus on improving the quality of its services to patients.
Examples of key findings included:
The system for reporting and recording significant events had been reviewed and further developed. Staff we spoke with understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses. We saw evidence to demonstrate that learning from incidents was shared amongst staff.
Risks to patients were assessed and well managed and all staff spoken to were familiar with the location of emergency equipment.
The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. There were disabled facilities and translation services available.
Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
There had been improvements made to the safeguarding process. The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems, processes and practices in place to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse.
There was evidence that the practice had more comprehensively reviewed the needs of its local population since the last inspection and had engaged with the Clinical Commissioning Group to secure improvements to services where these were identified.
Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:
“It was disappointing that our inspection in March 2015 highlighted concerns, particularly in relation to whether it was effective.
“I am very pleased to see that since then, the practice has made significant progress, which has led to a much better service for patients resulting in a new rating of Good and a removal from Special Measures.
“The practice had a strategy to maintain the delivery of quality care in order to improve outcomes for patients. There was a documented leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
“Patients spoke positively about staff at the practice and said they were treated with dignity and compassion.
“The practice was rated above average for nurse consultations in comparison to both local and national averages. The majority of patients stated that the last nurse they saw was good at listening, treating them with care and involving them in decisions.
“It is clear that the practice took our findings seriously, seeking external advice to help it improve and working hard to implement the necessary changes. All of the staff should be extremely proud of what they have achieved and I applaud the dedication and commitment they have shown to improving the care of their patients.”
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