Lynton Health Centre - Care Quality Commission

Background to this inspection

Updated 31 March 2017

Lynton Health Centre has one registered location providing general medical services at:

Lynton Health Centre, Lyn Health, Lynton, Devon EX35 6HA

Lynton Health Centre is situated in an isolated coastal rural area. There are 2594 patients on the practice list, which during the summer months can increase with an extra 500 temporary patients who are visitors to the area. The majority of patients are of white British background. All of the patients have a named GP. There are a much higher proportion of older adults on the patient list compared with other practices in the area. Nearly half (42%) of the patient population are over 65 years, with a higher prevalence of chronic disease which the practice monitors. The total patient population falls within the mid-range of social deprivation, including rural poverty in local farming areas.

The practice is managed by two GP partners (male and female). They are supported by a salaried GP (male). If required the practice uses the same GP locums for treatment continuity where ever possible. The nursing team consists of one female practice nurse. A minor injuries unit, located in the same building, is run by the integrated team on behalf of North Devon Healthcare Trust and the integrated team. These nurses also deliver some practice nursing duties at Lynton Health Centre.

Lynton Health Centre is a training practice, with two GP partners approved as GP trainers with Health Education South West. The practice normally provides placements for trainee GPs with the next intake due to start in August 2017.

The practice at Lynton Health Centre is contracted to be open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Phone lines are open from 8am to 6pm, with the out of hour’s service Devon Doctors responding to patient phone calls after this time. GP appointments for patients are available from 8.30am to 12pm and 2pm to 5.30pm every weekday. Extended opening hours are provided on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 7.30am and 8am. There is a minor injuries unit attached to the practice and nurses are contracted to provide treatment room nursing services, which include phlebotomy and wound management. Patients are able to access later appointments due to the opening hours of this unit. Information about this is listed on the practice website and in the patient information leaflet.

Patients requiring a GP outside of normal working hours are advised to contact the out of hour’s service provided by Devon Doctors. The practice closes for four half days a year for staff training and information about this is posted on the website.

The practice has a general medical services (GMS) contract.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 31 March 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Lynton Health Centre on 2 August 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on 2 August 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Lynton Health Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 14 March 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection in August 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

There were effective systems to assess the risk of preventing, detecting and controlling the spread of infections, including those that are health care associated.
There were effective recruitment procedures ensuring all necessary checks were made prior to a new member of staff commencing employment. This included obtaining satisfactory information for locum GPs.
Effective audit and governance systems to assess, monitor and mitigate the risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of patients had been implemented. This is in respect of monitoring risks, reviewing and updating policies and monitoring arrangements with the local NHS Trust who employed nurses to give care to the practice patients.

We looked at other areas highlighted by us for improvement and saw positive changes:

Child safeguarding procedures had been reviewed in line with current guidelines.
The practice was now fully utilising the electronic patient record system to ensure any concerning information about a patient was recorded and coded accordingly for ease of searches and reduction of any associated risks.
The practice had reviewed procedures and was following current guidelines covering the safe monitoring of vaccines for patient use by recording the minimum and maximum temperatures of any refrigerators being used.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice