The Albion Surgery

Updated 29 April 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of the practice on 28 July 2015. We undertook this focussed inspection on 10 March 2016 to check that the practice had taken steps to rectify shortcomings that were identified at the July inspection. This inspection did not include a visit to the practice. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for the Albion Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Overall the practice is rated as Good. Specifically, following the focussed inspection we found the practice to be good for providing safe services.

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

• Systems and processes were in place to keep people safe. The practice had taken steps to review and update health and safety risk assessments and ensure that actions were completed.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 19 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of people with long-term conditions.

Nursing staff had lead roles in the management of patients with long term conditions and those at risk of hospital admission. One of the administrators invited patients for regular reviews and they were working to reduce the number of appointments patients attended to one annual review. Data showed the practice carried out above the national average number of health checks for patients with long-term conditions. Longer appointments and home visits were provided when needed. The practice worked with other health and social care providers to ensure patients with complex health needs received multidisciplinary care. Patients with long-term conditions had a named GP. Clinical staff used National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and local guidelines to provide the most appropriate care and treatment to patients with long-term conditions.

Updated 19 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of families, children and young people.

The number of patients under 18 was in line with national and below local averages. There were systems in place to identify and follow up children living in disadvantaged circumstances and those at risk. The practice had identified a need to improve the approach to child safeguarding and had developed an administrative lead, trained to Level 3 in child protection, to co-ordinate administration, checking when patients do not attend for appointments both at the practice and at hospital and community appointments and working with the child health surveillance. This initiative has been shared and initiated by other practices across the CCG. The practice held regular meetings with health visitors to discuss children at risk and those on child protection plans. Staff had completed training to the required Level in child protection and were clear about their responsibilities to report concerns. The practice prioritised young children for urgent on the day appointments and provided appointments outside of school hours. Rates for childhood immunisations were below national averages. The practice was accessible for families with pushchairs and baby changing facilities were available.

Updated 19 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of older people.

Nationally reported data showed outcomes for patients were good for conditions commonly found in older people. The practice provided a named GP for patients over 75 years. One of the practice nurses set up The Albion Surgery Social Club in 2013 to help combat social isolation. Two members of the Patient Participation Group now provided to support the club. The club met for two hours one evening a fortnight. Around 15 patients attended on a regular basis. An example of a recent activity was a fish and chip supper. The practice employed two Patient Care Co-ordinators who liaised with patients and carers to help them communicate with multidisciplinary staff. The Patient Care Co-ordinators contacted a group of patients identified by the GPs as being at risk to check on their well-being during adverse weather conditions and when they had not been in touch with the practice for a while. The practice offered a range of book in advance and on the urgent on the day appointments. Home visits were provided when required. The practice worked with other health and social care providers to ensure patients received joined up care and to avoid unplanned admissions for those at risk.

Updated 19 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of working age people (including those recently retired and students).

The practice provided extended hours appointments two evenings a week. The practice was proactive in offering online services for patients to book appointments and request repeat prescriptions. The practice provided family planning services. Eighty two per cent of women had attended for their cervical smear test, which was in line with the national average. The practice provided a full range of health promotion and screening for this age group.

Updated 19 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

The practice had a register of patients experiencing poor mental health and 97% had a care plan that was reviewed annually which was above the national average. Data confirmed patients were asked about their alcohol consumption and smoking status. The practice worked with other health and social care services to enable patients to receive joined up care. They held three monthly meetings with community mental health teams. A social prescriber from a local mental health charity attended the practice every week. The practice developed care plans with patients with dementia; data showed that 80% had a care plan and the practice were working to increase this with administrators inviting patients for appointments.

Updated 19 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with a learning disability and homeless people. They provided longer appointments and annual health checks for patients with learning disabilities and all had received this check last year with follow up appointments provided when required. The practice had identified carers. They worked with multidisciplinary teams to ensure patients received joined up care and treatment. Information about local voluntary organisations was available at the practice. The practice provided a personalised patient list, so all patients had a named GP. Staff completed training in safeguarding and were clear about their responsibilities to record and report concerns.