Archived: Buchanan Road Surgery

Updated 24 March 2016

Buchanan Road Surgery is situated in the Parson Cross estate in an area of high deprivation with significant levels of substance misuse and alcohol dependence . There has been a surgery on the site since 1934. The surgery provides a range of services such as well person, counselling, and contraception.The practice holds clinics for minor surgery, coronary heart disease, substance misuse and offers smoking cessation advice. The surgery has a small car park to the rear and there are local transport links to the city centre.  The practice population is  list size is 5,000 which includes two care homes and an Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre.

The Practice has three partners (one on maternity leave), two salaried (one covering maternity leave) and one trainee GP.   although on one of these is currently on maternity leave. There are two practice nurses (both female) and one health care assistant/phelebotomist (female). There is a practice manager, a deputy practice manager and seven  reception/administrative staff. Buchanan Road is a GP a training practice.

The Practice is open 8.00 am – 6.00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8.00 am – 2.00 pm on Thursdays.   Appointments are from 08.30 to 10.30 and 15.30 to 17.30 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays. On Thursdays appointments are from 08.30 to 11.00. Extended surgery hours are not offered. Out of hours services are provided by the NHS 111 service. 

Information from the Data pack showed a large variation in the number of patients who are unable to get an appointment at the practice and unable to get through by telephone.  In addition, the percentage of respondents in the GP patient suregery were ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ satisfied with their GP practice opening hours was a very large variation for further enquiry.

Updated 24 March 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Buchanan Road surgery on 2 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Some patients reported they found it difficult to make an appointment with a named GP however, there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice had satisfactory facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice had made an attempt to gain feedback from staff and patients although this is work in progress.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Incident reporting including guidance alerts should be shared more widely across the practice team to include administrative staff. f. Actions arising from an infection control audit should be completed. Blind cleats should be placed in the waiting room.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 24 March 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions.

• Both P practice nurses had lead roles in chronic disease management and patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority.
• Performance for diabetes related indicators was comparable to the national average. For example, the percentage of patients with diabetes on the register whose last measured total cholesterol is 5 mmol/l or less is 79% compared to 80%.
• 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 24 March 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.
• The percentage of patients with asthma, on the register, who have had an asthma review in the preceding 12 months that includes an assessment of asthma control is 74% and comparable with 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 percentage of women aged 25-64 whose notes record that a cervical screening test has been performed in the preceding five years was 94% and higher than the national average of 81%.
• 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.
• Monthly meetings are held to discuss children and young peoples care including safeguarding.

Updated 24 March 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.
• The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.
• Monthly clinical staff meetings meetings a  were held to discuss the needs and care for older people.

Updated 24 March 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.

Updated 24 March 2016

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

• The percentage of patients diagnosed with dementia who had had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months was 93% and higher the national average of 84%.
• The percentage of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses who have a comprehensive, agreed care plan documented in the record, in the preceding 12 months is 93% and higher than the national average of 88%.
• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those living with dementia.
• The practice carried out advance care planning for patients living with dementia.
• The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.
• 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 those living with dementia.

Updated 24 March 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 multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people.
• 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.
• Monthly meetings are held to discuss patients with palliative care needs.