Newport Surgery

Updated 13 October 2016

Newport Surgery is situated in Newport, Essex. It provides GP services to approximately 8050 patients living in Newport, Saffron Walden, Elsenham and surrounding villages. It is one of 38 practices commissioned by the West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

The practice holds a General Medical Services contract (GMS) with the NHS. This contract outlines the core responsibilities of the practice in meeting the needs of its patients through the services it provides.

The practice population has a comparable number of children aged 0 to 18 years than the England average. It has an increased number of patients aged over 65 years and over 75 years. Economic deprivation levels affecting children and older people are much lower than England average, as are unemployment levels. The life expectancies of men and women are higher than national averages. There are more patients on the practice’s list that have long standing health conditions and there are slightly more patients with a caring responsibility than the England average.

The practice is governed by a partnership of three partners, two of which are male GPs and one of which is female. The partners are supported by three female salaried GPs. The practice also employs two practice nurses, a health care assistant and a phlebotomist. Administrative support consists of two part-time practice managers, as well as a number of reception and administrative staff.

Newport Surgery is a dispensing practice. The dispensary is open from 8:00am – 6:15pm Mondays to Fridays and dispenses medicines to patients who live more than one mile from a pharmacy. There are four dispensers who work at the dispensary.

The phone lines to the practice are open between 8:00am and 6:30pm every weekday. Morning appointments are from 8:10am to 12:00pm and afternoon surgery times are from 2:30pm until 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Appointments are available later than this time in the event of an emergency.

Pre-bookable appointments are available on a Saturday at Saffron Walden Community Hospital and also Dunmow Clinic. The practice is participating in the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund in order to improve access to GP services.

The practice has opted out of providing 'out of hours’ services which is now provided by Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC), another healthcare provider. Patients can also contact the NHS 111 service to obtain medical advice if necessary.

Updated 13 October 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

On the 14 December 2015, we carried out a comprehensive inspection at Newport Surgery, under its previous name of Dr Lort and Partners. Overall the practice was rated as good, with effective, caring responsive and well-led all rated as good.

It was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services. This was because there weren't suitable procedures to track prescription stationery through the practice, and this wasn't always stored securely. In relation to this, the practice was issued with a requirement notice for improvement. We also made advisory comments relating to the security of the arrangements for collecting medicines at the post-office collection point as well as noting that there was no risk assessment of medicines stored in the unlocked treatment room or in relation to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

After this inspection the practice sent us an action plan that identified how they would achieve the  improvements and the date when they would be completed. We then carried out an announced focused inspection at Newport Surgery on 28th July 2016 to check that the necessary improvements had been made.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There were suitable arrangements to track prescription stationery through the practice. This was stored securely.
• A robust risk assessment and remedial actions had been carried out in relation to the medicines that were collected at the post office.
• Medicines were no longer stored in the unlocked treatment room.
• A risk assessment had been carried out in relation to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 11 February 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. The percentage of patients with diabetes who had a foot examination and risk classification in the preceding 12 months was comparable to the national average. The practice managed new diabetic patients and offered insulin initiation.

Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.

Updated 11 February 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. Patients with children told us that that they were able to get a prompt appointment for their child. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies, as the premises were on the ground floor and easily accessible with a pushchair. There were changing facilities available. Separate multi-disciplinary meetings took place for children involving midwives, health visitors and school nurses.

Updated 11 February 2016

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. The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of this population group. For example, the practice was working with other GPs in the Uttlesford area to pilot a scheme which provided yellow folders to frail patients to ensure the safe transfer of information between providers.  It was responsive to the needs of this population group, and offered home visits and rapid access appointments.

Updated 11 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students). The practice was proactive in offering online services. Test results and appointment reminders could be sent by text message. There was a full range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs for this age group. Appointments were available outside of working hours and pre-booked appointments were available on the weekends.

Updated 11 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). 91.49% of people 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 83.82%.

Data showed that the practice was performing better than the national average for ensuring that patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had a comprehensive care plan in place. The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.

Updated 11 February 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice offered longer appointments for people with a learning disability and was working with the learning disabilities nurse to improve the uptake for annual reviews for this population group. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. 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.