19 November 2014
During a routine inspection
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
The Hetherington at The Pavilion Medical Centre, is located in Brixton in the London Borough of Lambeth in south-west London, and provides a general practice service to around 6,817 patients.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 November 2014. The inspection took place over one day and was undertaken by a lead inspector, along with a GP specialist advisor. We looked at care records, and spoke with patients, members of the patient participation group (PPG), and staff including the management team. The practice is commissioned to provide services under an Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) NHS contract, and is registered with the Care Quality Commission to carry on treatment of disease, disorder or injury; maternity and midwifery services; and diagnostic and screening procedures at one location.
Overall the practice is rated as Good.
Our key findings were as follows:
• There were systems in place for reporting, recording and monitoring significant events to help provide improved care. Staff were clear of their roles in regards to monitoring and reporting incidents, safeguarding vulnerable people and children, and following infection prevention and control guidelines.
• Staff shared best practice through internal arrangements and meetings and also by sharing knowledge and expertise with external consultants and other GP practices. There was strong multidisciplinary input in the service delivery to improve patient outcomes.
• Feedback from patients we spoke with during our inspection, in relation to their care and treatment was very positive. However patient feedback seen from the national GP survey 2013/2014 was mostly in the middle range or average with no risk. Patients were treated with kindness and respect and felt involved in their care decisions. All of the 19 comment cards completed by patients in the two weeks prior to our inspection visit had very positive comments about the care and service provided by the surgery.
• The practice was responsive to the needs of vulnerable patients and there was a strong focus on caring and on the provision of patient-centred care. The practice also offered nurse led clinics for health checks, diabetes and asthma checks. Information on health promotion and prevention, on the services provided by the practice and on the support existing in the community was available for patients. The practice had an established patient participation group (PPG) and a virtual patient participation group which can be accessed on line. The practice website was detailed and informative. Patients could make on-line appointments and prescription requests.
• The practice has a clear vision and strategic direction which was to improve the health, well-being and lives of those that they care for at the practice, and was well-led. Staff were suitably supported and patient care and safety was a high priority.
All the population groups including older people; people with long term conditions; mothers, babies, children and young people; the working age populations and those recently retired; people in vulnerable circumstances and people experiencing poor mental health received care that was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice