Dr M K Patel & Partners

Updated 6 April 2016

This practice is located in Scholes, Wigan. The practice provides services from purpose built single storey building which is shared with other healthcare professionals from another organisation. There is suitable patient access to the premises and disabled parking available. At the time of our inspection there were about 7900 patients registered with the practice. It is overseen by NHS Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The practice age profile is similar to the CCG and national averages. There are a high proportion of patients registered who have a long standing health condition (64%) compared to the CCG (57%) and National (54%) averages.

There are four partner GPs (three male and one female) and a salaried GP (female). They are supported by practice nursing team of three practice nurses and a healthcare assistant. There is also a practice manager and supporting administration and reception staff.

The practice delivers commissioned services under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract. It offers direct enhanced services for the childhood vaccination and immunisation scheme, facilitating timely diagnosis and support for people with dementia, influenza and pneumococcal immunisations, improving patient online access, learning disabilities, minor surgery, patient participation, rotavirus and shingles immunisation and unplanned admissions.

The practice is open from 8am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday with the exception of Tuesday and Thursday when there are extended hours are up to 8pm and Wednesday when the practice closes at 1pm.

Patients can book appointments in person, on line or via the phone. Emergency appointments are available each day. There is an out of hours service available provided by Bridgewater Community Health Care Trust and commissioned by Wigan Borough CCG.

Updated 6 April 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Patel, Kamath and Partners on 3 March 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place 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 the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice 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 practice 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. 

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 6 April 2016

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

• GPs and nursing staff had lead roles in chronic disease management and 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 a structured annual review to check their health and medicines needs were being met. For those patients with the most complex needs, the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 6 April 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 relatively high 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 positive examples of joint working with midwives and health visitors.

Updated 6 April 2016

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

• The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population.
• All patients in this population group had a named accountable GP.
• The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 6 April 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 proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflects the needs for this age group.
• Health promotion advice including up to date health promotion material was available throughout the practice.

Updated 6 April 2016

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

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.
• The practice 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.
• The practice had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency where they may have been experiencing poor mental health.
• Staff had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 6 April 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 including those with a learning disability.
• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability.
• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people.
• The practice informed 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.