• Doctor
  • GP practice

Acklam Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Trimdon Avenue, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS5 8SB (01642) 827697

Provided and run by:
Acklam Medical Centre

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 17 October 2018

Bluebell Medical Centre, Middlesbrough, TS5 8SB is a new purpose-built GP practice situated in a residential suburb of a large north-east town. The practice patient list size is approximately 10,484, with new patients still joining every day, at present. Formerly known as Dr Murphy and Partners, Bluebell Medical Centre moved into its existing site in May 2017, when it amalgamated two practices, thereby closing its Woodlands Road and Acklam Road sites.

The practice is made up of five management partners. Three of the partners are GPs, (two are male and one is female). There is a full-time practice manager who is also a management partner. There are two full-time, female, nurse practitioners. One of the nurse practitioners is also a management partner. There are three practice nurses and two health care assistants who are all part-time females. There is a deputy practice manager, a pharmacist and a team of administrators, secretaries and receptionists.

The practice is open between 8am and 6pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and 7.15am to 7.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday. The practice operates a same day appointment system. Each clinician manages their workflow from their telephone triage screen and appointments are booked throughout the day from 8am to 6pm. There are also some pre-bookable routine appointments available.

When the practice is closed, out of hours’ health care is delivered by a federation of GPs across South Tees (ELM Alliance). Patients can access this service by telephoning NHS 111 and patients are directed to this information via the practice website, and from displayed information inside the practice building.

Bluebell Medical Centre is rated a score of two, on the index of multiple deprivation. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2015 is the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in England. The Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks every small area in England from one (most deprived area) to ten (least deprived area). People living in more deprived areas tend to have a greater need for health services.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 17 October 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. This location is a new registration and has not been previously rated.

The key questions at this inspection 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 Bluebell Medical Practice on 26 September 2018. This was done as part of our routine inspection programme for newly registered locations.

At this inspection we found:

  • The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
  • The practice 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 treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • The triage appointment system enabled patients to always secure a same-day appointment if they needed it. There was also scope for patients to book routine appointments in advance.
  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

The practice’s engagement with the Patient Reference Group (PRG) facilitated the creation of a ‘Craft and Natter’ group which met fortnightly to undertake knitting projects for local charitable causes. The group had a strong social identity and many patients were keen to join the group. Through this craft group, PRG members had worthwhile opportunities to meet on a regular basis to discuss practice matters, giving strong representation to the practice population.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice