Fountains Medical Practice

Updated 17 August 2018

Fountains Medical Practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide primary medical services.

This is a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract within Chester city centre.

The practice team consists of one GP partner, three salaried doctors, one advanced nurse practitioner, one practice nurse, one healthcare assistant, a practice manager and office manager, reception and administration staff. The practice manager is the registered manager

The total practice list size is 2470. The practice is part of West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The practice is situated in a more affluent area that has lower than average areas of deprivation. The practice population is made up of a higher than national average population aged over 65 years and a lower than national average of younger aged patients.

It is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

Maternity and midwifery services

Diagnostic and screening procedures

Family Planning

Surgical procedures

Treatment of disease, disorder or injury

Out of hours primary medical services are accessed by calling NHS 111.

Updated 17 August 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall.

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 Fountains Medical Practice on 10 July 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

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. Care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There were systems in place to mitigate safety risks including health and safety, infection control and dealing with safeguarding. However, some areas should be improved.
• The practice had good 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 reviewed and considered patient views through surveys and feedback.
• Staff worked well together as a team, knew their patients well and all felt supported to carry out their roles.
• There was a focus on learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review the implementation of the revised safeguarding policy to ensure all staff are familiarised with it.
• Review the system to document safeguarding meetings with relevant stakeholders.
• Review the health and safety risk assessments to ensure they are up to date for the practice area.
• Review the system for safety alerts received by the practice to ensure action taken is documented.
• Review the systems in place to ensure relevant clinical guidance and legislation is implemented across the practice.
• Review the implementation of an audit plan or programme to include undertaken audits based on local, national and service priorities.
• Continue the development of an active patient participation group (PPG) in order to extend the range and methods of obtaining patients views to help improvement and develop services.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 17 August 2018

Updated 17 August 2018

Updated 17 August 2018

Updated 17 August 2018

Updated 17 August 2018

Updated 17 August 2018