Archived: Shannon Court Surgery

Updated 1 November 2018

Dr. Jonathan Graffy is the registered provider of Shannon Court Surgery previously known as Kings Road Surgery. The surgery is located in a shopping precinct in Sandy, Bedfordshire, where the premises have been renovated for the purpose of offering primary medical services, including an inhouse dispensary service for the practice patients. The practice moved to the new premises in April 2018. Further information about Shannon Court Surgery can be found by accessing the practice website at http://www.shannoncourtsurgery.co.uk

The practice has approximately 6000 patients registered in an area with lower levels of social and economic deprivation, compared to England as a whole. The practice deprivation level is ranked as eight out of 10, with 10 being the least deprived. (Deprivation covers a broad range of issues and refers to unmet needs caused by a lack of resources of all kinds, not just financial). Many of the people in the practice area are from a white background group, with 95.5% of the practice population being within this group.

The practice holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England. A GMS contract ensures practices provide essential services for people with health issues including chronic disease management and end of life care. The surgery has expanded its contracted obligations to provide enhanced services to patients. An enhanced service is above the contractual requirement of the practice and is commissioned in order to improve the range of services available to patients.

The clinical team consists of the principal GP (male) and a team of salaried and long term locum GPs (3 male and 2 female), supported by a nurse practitioner, two practice nurses, a healthcare assistant, pharmacy technician and a phlebotomist. The non clinical team consists of a practice manager, dispensary manager and a team of administration/reception staff.

Parking is available at the rear of the practice and patients can access the surgery through the front entrance of the shopping precinct or via the rear entrance where the car park is situated. The surgery has manual operated entrance doors which reception staff had clear view of and is accessible to patients using a wheelchair and push chairs. The practice is spread across two floors with the majority of the consulting rooms being on the second floor, which are accessible by a lift. A consulting room is available on the ground floor for patients who have difficulties in using a lift.

The practice is open between 8am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays. Early morning appointments are available Monday and Friday from 7am to 8am. Telephone access is available from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Emergency appointments are available daily and telephone consultations are also available for those who need advice. Home visits are available to those patients who are unable to attend the practice. When the practice is closed the out of hours service is provided by the NHS 111 service.

Updated 1 November 2018

This practice is rated as good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires Improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Shannon Court Surgery on 18 September 2018 as part of our comprehensive inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• We found communication with the practice required strengthening as staff were aware of where policies were kept, but unsure of what policies were available.
• The practice was unable to demonstrate that an infection control audit had been completed and we found some of the staff had not completed the appropriate training for infection control relevant to their role.
• 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 it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Clinical staff immunisation status was not recorded for some of the clinical team and no risk assessments had been completed to identify duties undertaken, risks and actions to minimise the risk to staff and patients.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use, but some patients commented on difficulties in getting routine appointments.
• Patients commented positively on the care received by the practice.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Results from the August 2018 national GP patient survey showed that the practice scored above local and national averages in a number of areas.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Continue to review process to identify carers.
• Review and monitor staff training to ensure staff have completed training updates appropriate to their role.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 1 November 2018

Updated 1 November 2018

Updated 1 November 2018

Updated 1 November 2018

Updated 1 November 2018

Updated 1 November 2018