The Hollies Medical Centre

Updated 15 January 2018

The Hollies Medical Centre is responsible for providing primary care services to approximately 4,349 patients. The practice has a General Medical Services (GMS) contract and offers a range of enhanced services such as flu and shingles vaccinations, unplanned admissions and timely diagnosis of dementia. The number of patients with a long standing health condition is comparable to other practices nationally. The practice has two GP partners (one female and one male), a nurse practitioner and practice nurse, administration and reception staff and a practice manager.

The practice is open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. The practice has a late night in addition to the stated hours each Wednesday when it closes at 8.30pm. Open access to GP appointments is available from 8am to 10.30am on a Monday and Friday. Patients can book appointments in person, via the telephone or online. The practice provides telephone consultations, pre-bookable consultations, urgent consultations and home visits. The practice treats patients of all ages and provides a range of primary medical services. Home visits and telephone consultations were available for patients who required them, including housebound patients and older patients. There are also arrangements to ensure patients receive urgent medical assistance out of hours when the practice is closed.

The practice is part of the Knowsley Clinical Commissioning group.

Updated 15 January 2018

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students) – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Hollies Medical Centre on 2 November 2017 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.

• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.

• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.

• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

• 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.

• Staff worked well together as a team, knew their patients well and all felt supported to carry out their roles.

• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

• The practice had a proactive Patient Participation Group (PPG) who worked closely with staff to monitor and develop services.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• A risk assessment for Legionella should be undertaken.

• The arrangements for allowing reception staff who have not had a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to undertake chaperoning duties should be reviewed.

• The infection control training for all staff should be reviewed.

• A comprehensive practice environmental risk assessment should be completed.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 15 January 2018

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Updated 15 January 2018

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Updated 15 January 2018

Updated 15 January 2018