Dr Kumar and Partner - Studfall Medical Centre

Updated 9 May 2018

Dr Kumar and Partners – Studfall Medical Centre provides a range of primary medical services to the residents of Corby and surrounding areas in Northamptonshire. The practice has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is an individual registered with CQC to manage the regulated activities provided.

The practice provides primary medical services under a general medical services (GMS) contract from its purpose built location of Studfall Medical Centre, Studfall Court, Corby, NN17 1QP. Online services can be accessed from the practice website www.thestudfallpartnership.co.uk

The practice has approximately 5,550 patients. The practice population is predominantly white British with an average age range. National data indicates the area is one of mid deprivation.

The practice is led by two GP partners, one male and one female. They use four regular locum GPs to support the clinical team. The nursing team consists of an advance nurse practitioner, three practice nurses and a health care assistant, all female. There is a team of administrative and reception staff all led by the practice manager. The practice is a teaching practice and currently has one GP registrar. GP registrars are qualified doctors training to become GPs.

Dr Kumar and Partners – Studfall Medical Centre is open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday with extended opening hours from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Mondays.

When the practice is closed out-of-hours services are provided by Integrated Care 24 Limited and can be accessed via the NHS 111 service.

Updated 9 May 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 07/2015 – 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 Dr Kumar and Partners – Studfall Medical Centre on 23 March 2018. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, 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.
• Positive events, compliments and complaints were recorded as significant events and learning was identified from them.
• The practice had systems and policies in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.
• 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.
• Patients were referred to support services to help manage their health and well-being. For example, veterans of the armed services were identified and referred to support organisations to help them with post-traumatic stress. Patients were referred to a local First for Wellbeing team commissioned by the Borough Council for support on emotional wellbeing, smoking and alcohol cessation and weight management.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Feedback from patients was positive. The practice scored above average in many areas of the national GP patient survey published in July 2017.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• The practice had a complaint policy and procedures that were in line with recognised guidance. However, an initial response to the complainant within three days as stated in the policy was not evidenced for all complaints.
• The practice had identified 72 patients as carers (approximately 1.3% of the practice list). The practice did not have an identified carer’s champion. Carers were offered a referral to Northamptonshire Carers Association, a charity that supports unpaid carers.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Manage complaints in accordance with the practice policy and the recognised guidance and contractual obligations for GPs in England.
• Consider ways to further support patients who are also carers.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 9 May 2018

Updated 9 May 2018

Updated 9 May 2018

Updated 9 May 2018

Updated 9 May 2018

Updated 9 May 2018