i-HEART 365 Service - GP Streaming

Updated 21 January 2020

Barnsley Healthcare Federation (CIC) registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide a GP streaming service to patients who attend Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust emergency department. The service is contracted by Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and provides a walk-in navigational service within the emergency department.

The service is operational from 10am to 10pm every day of the year. A qualified clinical navigator initially assesses the patient and directs them to the most appropriate department, which includes the GP service. Patients directed to the GP service will have their observations taken within 15 minutes of booking into the service and their early warning score calculated. The purpose is to reduce pressure on the emergency department and ensure patients are referred to the most appropriate department.

The service employs both male and female GPs, nursing staff and clinical navigators. They are supported by receptionists and a management team who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the service. The provider is based at  Oaks Park Medical Centre and all head office functions are carried out from this location.

Barnsley Healthcare Federation CIC is registered with the Commission to provide the following regulated activities, diagnostic and screening, transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely and treatment of disease, disorder and injury from i-HEART 365 Service - GP Streaming, Gawber Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 2EP.

Barnsley Healthcare Federation CIC has other locations registered with the Commission which include an extended hours access service, the out-of-hours service and GP practices.

Further details can be found by accessing the provider’s website at www.iheartbarnsley.org.uk.

Updated 21 January 2020

This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection November 2018 – 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

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at i-HEART 365 Service – GP Streaming on 15 and 16 November 2019 due to registration changes since the last inspection. The service, under their old CQC registration had been rated as inadequate at an inspection in February 2018 but then as good during a follow-up inspection in November 2018.

At this inspection we found:

• The service had good systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When they did happen, the service learned from them and improved their processes.
• The service routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients were able to access care and treatment from the service within an appropriate timescale for their needs.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are: 

• Establish a programme of audit to review the appropriateness of the outcomes of clinical navigation and GP streaming.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care