Archived: The Avenue Surgery

Updated 2 February 2018

The practice is situated in the Moulsecoomb area of Brighton and provides general medical services to approximately 6,815 patients. There are two GP partners and one salaried GP (male and female). The practice also employs three practice nurses. There is a practice manager and a team of ten reception and administrative staff.

Opening hours are 8.30am to 12pm and 3pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday with extended hours in operation on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and alternate Saturdays from 8.00am until 11.00am. The practice is closed Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 8.30am and between 12.00pm and 3.00 pm. During this time the practice has a GP on duty who can be contacted via the out of hour’s service which is detailed on the practice’s answer phone message. In addition pre-bookable nurse appointments and GP/practice nurse diabetic clinic appointments available from 2.00pm.

The practice provides a wide range of services to patients, including minor surgery, asthma and diabetes clinics, cervical screening, contraception and sexual health clinics, childhood immunisations, minor surgery, smoking cessation and ante and post-natal care. It provides a young person’s sexual health drop in clinic for patients aged under 25. Patients don’t have to be registered with the practice to attend.

The practice has a higher than average percentage of its population aged between 5 and 14 years of age and under the age of 18. It also has a higher than average percentage population with income deprivation, placed in the second most deprived decile and particularly affecting children and older people. The practice has higher levels of unemployment than both the national and clinical commissioning group averages. There are a higher than average proportion of patients aged between 20 and 24, with a transient student population registered at the practice. It has less than average percentage of its population aged over 65 years.

The practice has opted out of providing Out of Hours services to their own patients. Patients are able to access Out of Hours services through NHS 111.

Updated 2 February 2018

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection April 2015 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Avenue Surgery on 23 November 2017 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• The practice made improvements to the quality of care and treatment through the use of audit and were able to demonstrate action taken and measurable improvements as a result.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect and they demonstrated a good understanding of the needs of the local patient population.
• The practice worked with other services to meet the needs of their complex and transient population groups.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• There was evidence of good working with the patient participation group in order to engage, listen and work with patients to ensure that services met patient needs.
• Clear action had been taken by the practice to improve antimicrobial prescribing.
• Exception reporting was high in some areas; however the practice demonstrated a good awareness and understanding of this and took continuous action to encourage improvements.
• Patient satisfaction was high in relation to GP and nurse consultations and their involvement in planning and decision making about their care.
• The practice encouraged access to services by promoting online services, drop-in services for specific groups and extended hours appointments in the evening and at the weekend.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Continue to work to improve exception reporting in relation to patient outcomes for those with long term conditions.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

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Updated 2 February 2018