South Leics Medical Group – GQC latest report

We carried out an announced focused inspection at South Leicestershire Medical Group on 20 June 2023. Overall, the practice is rated as requires improvement.

SafeRequires Improvement
EffectiveRequires Improvement
CaringNot inspected, rating of good carried forward from previous inspection
ResponsiveRequires Improvement
Well ledRequires Improvement

Following our previous inspection on 28 April the practice was rated requires improvement overall and for all key questions but rated good in caring.

The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for South Leicestershire Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we carried out this inspection

We carried out this inspection to follow up on concerns and breaches of regulation from a previous inspection in line with our inspection priorities.

How we carried out the inspection

This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site. This included:

  • Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
  • Completing clinical searches on the practice’s patient records system (this was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements).
  • Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
  • Requesting evidence from the provider.
  • A short site visit.
  • Staff questionnaires.

Our findings

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

  • what we found when we inspected
  • information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
  • information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

Overall summary

We found that:

  • The practice did not always code safeguarding records effectively or deal with safeguarding tasks in a timely manner.
  • Services within the dispensary were not always being delivered in line with regulations.
  • Medicine reviews were not always effective or completed in a timely manner.
  • Patients were not always able to access care and treatment in a timely way.
  • Practice leaders were not always aware of poor performance within some areas of the practice.
  • The practice did not operate effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

We found a breach of regulation. The provider must:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care. In addition there were areas the provider could improve and should :
  • Continue to identify, contact and assess patients who are eligible for NHS health checks.
  • Continue to review and improve the system and process to gain feedback from patients in relation to access.
  • Document discussions had with patients in medical records in respect of risks associated from safety alerts.

Dr Sean OKelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services

27/07/2023