Archived: Phoenix Surgery

Updated 23 November 2017

Phoenix Surgery is situated in the town of Camborne in Cornwall. The practice provides a general medical service to 5,820 patients covering an area from Hayle, to Trevingay and Illogan to Praze-an-Beeble.

The practice population area is in the second decile for deprivation. The lower the decile the more deprived an area is compared to the national average. The practice population ethnic profile is predominantly White British. There is a practice age distribution of male and female patients’ broadly equivalent to national average figures. The average male life expectancy for the practice area is 77 years which is lower than the national average of 79 years; female life expectancy is 81 years which is also lower than the national average of 83 years. The practice has a higher percentage of patients with long standing health conditions.

There is a team of five GP partners, four female and one male. The GPs all work part time. The whole time equivalent was four staff. The team are supported by a practice manager, two practice nurses, two healthcare assistants, a phlebotomist (a person trained to take blood) and additional administration staff and support staff. The practice is a training practice and has two registrars.

Patients using the practice also have access to community nurses, mental health teams and health visitors and other health care professionals who visit the practice on a regular basis.

The practice is open between 8am - and 6pm Monday to Friday. Appointments are offered between 8.30am and 1pm and 3pm to 6pm. Extended hours are offered form 6.30pm to 8pm one evening a week. The practice offers a range of appointment types including book on the day, telephone consultations and advance appointments.

When the practice is closed at lunchtimes, evenings and weekends, patients are directed to contact the out of hour’s service by using the NHS 111 number.

The practice had a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England.

The Phoenix Surgery provides regulated activities from the site at Camborne Health Office, Rectory Road, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 7DL

Updated 23 November 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This announced focused inspection was carried out on 17 October 2017 to confirm that the practice were continuing to meet the regulations.

In February 2017 the overall rating for the practice was Good. The full comprehensive report for the February 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Phoenix Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Overall the practice is rated as Good

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice maintained an open and transparent approach and systems were in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• 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 the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 2 August 2016

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.

• Nationally reported data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework showed that outcomes for patients were good for patients with long term conditions. For example, patients diagnosed with high blood pressure who had a normal blood pressure recording in the last year was 87% which was better than the national average of 84%.

• 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 2 August 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.

• 79% of patients on the practice asthma register, had received an asthma review in the last 12 months compared to the national average of 75%.

• 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.

  The practice was EEFO(EEFO is a name of a scheme in Cornwall which helps young people access health services easily) level two accredited, one of only 20 services to achieve this level; ensuring services were young person friendly in every aspect of service delivery.

• The percentage of women aged 25-64 whose notes record that a cervical screening test has been performed in the preceding five years was 78%, which was comparable to the national average of 82%.

• 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, health visitors and school nurses.

Updated 2 August 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.

• Older patients with complex care needs or those at risk of hospital admissions had personalised care plans which were shared with local organisations to facilitate continuity of care.

• The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 2 August 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.

• Flu clinics were offered on Saturday mornings and during evening appointments

Updated 2 August 2016

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

• 96% of patients diagnosed with dementia had, had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months. This was better than the national average of 84%

• The percentage of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other

  psychoses who had a comprehensive, agreed care plan documented in the record, in the last 12 months was 95% which was above the national average of 88%.

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients 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.

• On site counselling from outside providers was available in the practice.

• Flexible length appointment times were available.

• 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 2 August 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 homeless people, travellers and those with a learning disability.

• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability.

• The practice regularly worked with other health care professionals in the case management of vulnerable patients.

• 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.