Archived: Shelford Medical Practice

Updated 20 April 2018

Shelford Medical Practice provides General Medical Services to approximately 9,000 patients in Shelford, Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area. The surgery is situated in a purpose built health centre. The practice provides treatment and consultation rooms on the ground floor with ramp access and automatic doors. The practice is a teaching practice for medical students and qualified doctors who are training to be GPs. The practice is also a member of the Clinical Research Network supporting approved clinical research within NHS primary care. There was a GP registrar on site during the day of the inspection. (A GP registrar is a qualified doctor who is training to become a GP).

The practice has a team of nine GPs, five female and four male. Five of the GPs are partners which means they hold managerial and financial responsibility for the practice. Of the remaining four, there are three salaried GPs, and one GP retainer (the GP Retainer Scheme enables GPs with other commitments to undertake a limited amount of general practice to maintain their skills until returning to more substantive general practice in the future. Retainees may work up to four sessions a week in an educationally approved retainer practice). There is a team of two practice nurses and a health care assistant. There is a practice management team who are supported by a communications manager. In addition there is a team of administrative, secretarial and reception staff who share a range of roles.

The practice is open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. The practice is closed between 1pm to 2pm every day. During this time, and from 6pm onwards, the telephone system is diverted to the 111 service. In addition to pre-bookable appointments that could be booked up to four weeks in advance, urgent appointments are also available for people that need them. Telephone appointments are available. Out of hours services are provided by Herts Urgent Care via the 111 service.

At the time of our inspection, the practice was in the process of merging with another larger practice from the local area. The practice had not formally signed contracts with the other practice however, it was in the process of sharing staff, aligning policies and procedures and planning patient list merges. This was to enable to the practice staff to become integrated with the new practice that they will be merging with.

According to information taken from Public Health England, the practice has a higher than average number of patients aged 75+ years, and a lower than average number of patients 15-34 years, compared to the practice average across England. It is located in an affluent area of Cambridgeshire. The practice area is one of the least deprived areas within England, according to information taken from Public Health England’s index of multiple deprivation score.

Updated 20 April 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection published 5 May 2016 – Good.)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

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 Shelford Medical Practice on 15 March 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• 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 were high achievers for nationally reported outcomes. However, antibiotic prescribing was above local and national averages. The practice were aware of, and acting on this.

• The practice did not have oversight of risk assessments including fire, health and safety and legionella. The infection prevention and control policy was due for review in March 2017, this had not been completed and was not practice specific.

• Staff told us that they were happy to work at the practice and felt supported by the management team. Staff told us they were encouraged to raise concerns and share their views.

• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.

• The practice had put in place a rapid access clinic due to an increase in demand of on the day appointments and patient feedback regarding availability of appointments.

• Results from the July 2017 national GP patient survey were in line with and above local and national averages. Feedback from patients we spoke with and received comments from supported these findings.

• Information on the complaints process was available for patients at the practice and on the practice’s website. There was an effective process for responding to, investigating and learning from complaints and responses to patients were timely.

• There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation. The practice was a training practice for GP trainees. It was also a teaching practice for medical and nursing students.

The areas where the provider must make improvements are:

• Establish and operate effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018