Archived: Sackville Medical Centre

Updated 25 February 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on 17 June 2015. Breaches of legal requirements were found in relation to the safe management of medicines, the cleaning of equipment and assessing the risk of legionella. After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements. We undertook this focused inspection on 14 January 2016 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.

Our key findings across the areas we inspected for this focused inspection were as follows:-

• Arrangements were now in place to ensure that medicines were stored securely at all times

• Blank prescription forms were handled in line with current national guidance.

• A comprehensive assessment had been undertaken to detect the risk of legionella and action had been taken to mitigate identified risks.

• Cleaning schedules were in place for equipment and toys kept in the treatment rooms and regular spot checks were undertaken.

• An up to date audit of infection control had been undertaken and the practice had plans in place for these to be repeated very six months.

• All GP records were now held centrally and we saw evidence to show that all GPs had completed level 3 training on safeguarding children.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 3 September 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions. 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 that their health and medication needs were being met. For those people with the most complex needs, the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 3 September 2015

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 good examples of joint working with midwives, health visitors and school nurses.

Updated 3 September 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. Nationally reported data showed that outcomes for patients were good for conditions commonly found in older people. For example the practice QOF scores for atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke and transient ischaemic attack were all at 100%. The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population and had a range of enhanced services, for example, in dementia and end of life care. It was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs. The practice supported two nursing homes and a designated named partner GP had responsibility for the homes. A community navigator supported patients to access social and community care, including those patients who were housebound.

Updated 3 September 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. For example the practice offered early morning and late evening appointments on certain days during the week. 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.

Updated 3 September 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). 87% of people experiencing poor mental health had received an annual physical health check. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.

The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. It had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency (A&E) where they may have been experiencing poor mental health. Staff had received training on how to care for people with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 3 September 2015

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 homeless people, travellers and those with a learning disability. It had carried out annual health checks for people with a learning disability and these patients had received a follow-up. It offered longer appointments for people with a learning disability.

The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. It had told 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.