Archived: Chelmer Village Surgery

Updated 3 October 2016

Chelmer Village Surgery is located in a purpose built building in a residential area in Chelmsford, Essex. The practice profile shows the practice has a relatively high number of patients aged 0 to 14 years old and 30 to 44 years old, whereas there is a relatively low number of patients aged 50 years old and over. At the time of inspection the practice list size was approximately 4200 patients, this list was open. The practice had a General Medical Services contract.

The practice has a male GP Principal and two female salaried GPs. The practice has one practice nurse, a practice manager, an administrator and three receptionists.

The practice is open between 9am and 6.30pm Monday to Fridays. Appointments are from 9am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6.30pm daily, with the exception of Thursdays when appointments are offered from 9am to 1pm.

Out of hours services are offered by Primecare and patients are directed to call 111.

Updated 3 October 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a desk based review for Chelmer Village Surgery on 12 August 2016. This was to follow up on actions we asked the provider to take after our announced comprehensive inspection on 7 January 2016.

During the inspection in January 2016, we identified that the practice had not considered the need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check for all staff who acted as a chaperone. We also identified that the practice had not carried out an infection control audit since 2013.

The practice wrote to tell us how they would make improvements and we have reviewed records they provided to show their actions had been completed.

Our key findings were;

• Staff acting as chaperones had received appropriate safety checks in order to safeguard patients.
• Shortly after our inspection in January 2016, the practice carried out an infection control audit

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 25 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions. Patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority. Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed. All these patients had a named GP and an annual review to check that their health and medication needs were being met. For those people with the most complex needs, the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 25 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people. There were systems in place to identify and follow up children living in disadvantaged circumstances and who were at risk, for example, children and young people who had a high number of A&E attendances. Immunisation rates were in line with averages for the CCG for all standard childhood immunisations. Patients told us that children and young people were treated in an age-appropriate way and were recognised as individuals, and we saw evidence to confirm this. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies. We saw good examples of joint working with midwives and health visitors.

Updated 25 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. Nationally reported data showed that outcomes for patients were good for conditions commonly found in older people. The practice offered personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population, offered phlebotomy services to this patient group as well as flu jabs at home if required. It was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 25 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students). The needs of the working age population, those recently retired and students had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care. The practice was offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflects the needs for this age group.

Updated 25 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). 91.67% of people experiencing poor mental health had an agreed care plan documented in their record, this was above the national average of 88.47%. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia. It carried out advance care planning for patients with dementia.

The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. It had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency (A&E) where they may have been experiencing poor mental health. Staff had received training on how to care for people with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 25 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances those with a learning disability. It offered annual health checks for people with a learning disability and but these patients had not accepted this offer. It offered longer appointments for people with a learning disability.

The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. It had told vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children. Staff were aware of their responsibilities regarding information sharing, documentation of safeguarding concerns and how to contact relevant agencies in normal working hours and out of hours.