The Family Surgery

Updated 10 August 2017

The Family Surgery is located in a residential area of Birkdale. There were approximately 4000 patients on the practice list and the majority of patients were of white British background. There were a higher proportion of children on the patient list compared with other practices in the area.

The practice is managed by three GP partners (two male, one female) with two salaried GPs. There is an advanced nurse practitioner, a practice nurse, practice manager, reception and administration staff. The practice is open 8am to 6.30pm and offers evening clinics with the nursing staff on Wednesday until 8pm. Patients accessed the Out-of-Hours GP service by calling NHS 111.

The practice is commissioned by NHS Southport and Formby local clinical commissioning group and has a Personal Medical Service (PMS) contract and also offers enhanced services for example; child immunisations.

Updated 10 August 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Family Surgery on 20 July 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• The practice had been an established traditional surgery, owned by a single handed GP for many years, who had recently retired. The practice was now owned by a new partnership of three GPs. There had been a change in the staffing structure and new systems were in the process of being implemented.
• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients we spoke with and Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards reviewed indicated that patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with said they found it easy to make an appointment. Urgent appointments were available the same day.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Implement a system for monitoring all equipment used for medical emergencies.
• Have a written protocol for managing uncollected prescriptions and ensure uncollected prescriptions are monitored and reviewed in a timely manner.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 10 August 2017

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

• There was a system to recall patients for 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 10 August 2017

The practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people.

• The practice worked with midwives and health visitors to support this population group. For example, in the provision of ante-natal, post-natal and child health surveillance clinics and provided immunisations.
• All staff had been training in safeguarding children relevant to their role and the practice had regular meetings with the health visitor to discuss any concerns.

Updated 10 August 2017

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people.

• The practice was responsive to the needs of older patients, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.
• The practice identified at an early stage older patients who may need palliative care as they were approaching the end of life. It involved older patients in planning and making decisions about their care, including their end of life care.
• The practice followed up on older patients discharged from hospital and ensured that their care plans were updated to reflect any extra needs.
• The practice worked closely with the community matron.

Updated 10 August 2017

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 as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs for this age group.
• The practice had an additional clinic available once a week in the evening for patients who could not attend during normal working hours.

Updated 10 August 2017

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

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients experiencing poor mental health, including those living with dementia.
• The practice was able to signpost patients experiencing poor mental health to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.
• Staff had received training about dementia. The GP partners had also designed a new template for dementia consultations.

Updated 10 August 2017

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 those with a learning disability.
• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability.
• The practice regularly worked with other health care professionals in the case management of vulnerable patients.
• The practice had information available for vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.