Archived: Oldwell Surgery

Updated 1 October 2015

Oldwell Surgery is located in the Winlaton area of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

The practice provides services to around 5,250 patients from one location; 10 Front Street, Winlaton, Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, NE21 4RD. We visited this address as part of the inspection.

The practice is located in a purpose built two storey building; all patient facilities are situated on the ground floor.

The practice has two GP partners (both male), two salaried GPs, (one male and one female), a nurse practitioner, a practice nurse, a healthcare assistant, a practice manager, and 11 staff who carry out reception and administrative duties.

Surgery opening times at the practice are between 8:15am and 6:30pm Monday to Friday, with extended hours on a Wednesday evening until 7:15pm.

The practice provides services to patients of all ages based on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract agreement for general practice.

The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out of hours is provided by GatDoc.

Updated 1 October 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced inspection of this practice on 8 January 2015. Breaches of legal requirements were found. After the comprehensive inspection the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the following legal requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act (HSCA) 2008:

• Regulation 21 HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 Requirements relating to workers (which corresponds to Regulation 19 of the HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014);

We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Oldwell Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had addressed all of the issues identified during the previous inspection.
• Appropriate recruitment checks had been carried out for the most recent members of staff and there were arrangements in place to ensure the GPs and nurses were registered with the relevant professional bodies.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 19 March 2015

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

The practice had systems to ensure care was tailored to individual needs and circumstances. We spoke with GPs and nurses who told us care reviews for patients with long term conditions took place at six monthly or yearly intervals. These appointments included a review of the effectiveness of their medicines, as well as patients’ general health and wellbeing. The practice ensured timely follow up of patients with long term conditions by adding them to the practice registers. Patients were then recalled as appropriate, in line with agreed recall intervals.

Updated 19 March 2015

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

We saw the practice had processes in place for the regular assessment of children’s development. This included the early identification of problems and the timely follow up of these. Systems were in place for identifying and following-up children who were considered to be at-risk of harm or neglect. For example, the needs of all at-risk children were regularly reviewed at practice multidisciplinary meetings involving child care professionals such as school nurses and health visitors.

The practice advertised services and activities available locally to families. Lifestyle advice for pregnant women about healthy living, including smoking cessation and alcohol consumption was given by the GPs and midwives.

Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies. Arrangements had been made for new babies to receive the immunisations they needed.

Updated 19 March 2015

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

Nationally reported data showed the practice had good outcomes for conditions commonly found amongst older people. The practice offered personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population. The practice had written to patients over the age of 75 years to inform them who their named GP was. The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, including offering home visits.

Updated 19 March 2015

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 which reflected the needs of this age group. We saw health promotion material was made easily accessible through the practice’s website. This included signposting and links to other websites including those dedicated to weight loss, sexual health and smoking cessation.

Updated 19 March 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). Patients experiencing poor mental health had received an annual physical health check. The practice worked closely with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health including those with dementia. The practice had care planning in place for patients with dementia.

The practice had sign-posted patients experiencing poor mental health to various support groups and third sector organisations. Information and leaflets about services were made available to patients within the practice.

Updated 19 March 2015

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

Systems were in place in place to identify patients, families and children who were at risk or vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with learning disabilities. These patients were offered regular reviews. The practice worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. The practice had sign-posted vulnerable patients to various support groups and third sector 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 and out of hours.