Archived: Angel Medical Service Limited

Updated 14 June 2017

Angel Medical Services Limited was commissioned from 16 October 2009 to provide a walk in minor injuries and illnesses service to Islington and the surrounding area. Although Islington Clinical Commissioning Group commissions the service, the urgent care service is available to both local residents and to patients who might work in the local area.

The service is situated in an area which is classified as the fourth most deprived decile on the index of multiple deprivation. The majority of the patients are either young or of working age. A small percentage of patients are aged between 65 and 85. The service is above the national average for patients aged between 20 and 40 and below the national average for patients aged between 65 and 85.

The health of people in London Borough of Islington is lower when compared with the national average. For example, 45% of people within London Borough of Islington have a long-standing health condition, comparable to the national average which is 53%. The lower percentage of people with a long-standing health condition could mean a lower demand for GP services including walk-in services.

The partners at Ritchie Street Practice (a GP practice) established the service and the service rents two rooms from Ritchie Street Practice. The service operates from 34 Ritchie Street, London, Islington, N1 0DG. The service is on one level and is accessible to those with poor mobility.

On site, a practice manager and one of the GP directors have oversight of the urgent care service. One GP locum and one nurse locum, provided through a bank of regular locums used by Angel Medical Services Limited, cover daily appointments. The service shares reception staff with the Ritchie Street Practice.

The service is commissioned to provide a maximum of 18,408 face-to-face appointments per year. The service offers 72 20-minute face-to-face appointments a day Monday to Friday and 46 appointments a day on Saturday and Sunday. In total, the service offers 452 appointments per week and 23,504 appointments per year.

The urgent care service is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. The service is closed on Christmas day, Boxing day and New Year’s day. Patients upon arrival at the service are given an appointment slot.

Patients have to attend the service in person to make an appointment.   

Updated 14 June 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Angel Medical Service Limited, a walk-in centre, on 21 March 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• The service informally audited and reviewed individual assessments, investigations and where necessary diagnosis and treatment. However, there was no clear feedback trail from this audit or evidence that the learning was shared with both individuals and all staff as relevant.

• Feedback from patients about access to the service and treatment received was consistent and highly positive.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.

• The service understood the needs of the changing local population, increased demand on local health services and had planned services to meet those needs.

• The service had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The service proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

• The service should review the process for auditing performance of individual clinicians including, individual assessments, investigations and where necessary diagnosis and treatment. Ensuring that there is a clear feedback trail from the audits and evidence that the learning is shared with both individuals and all staff as relevant.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice