Archived: Aspect Health Ltd

Updated 11 January 2017

Aspect Health Ltd falls within St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The medical centre is run by a federation of four GP’s from local practices. The practice is a limited company and has three medical directors (all male GPs) and three salaried GPs, (two male and one female). They are also supported by locum and self-employed doctors. The practice has two services known as Sherdley Medical Centre and Eldercare, both managed from their main offices at Sherdley Medical Centre. Sherdley Medical Centre provides a GP surgery serving the local community. Eldercare is a virtual service, whereby GPs visit patients in their own homes, care homes and retirement complexes such as sheltered accommodation. They have one practice manager, a business development consultant, a practice nurse, health care assistants and a team of administration and reception staff. The practice is a training practice for General Practitioner registrars.

The building is purpose built and situated within the local hospital building. There were approximately 5000 patients in total on the practice list at the time of inspection which included patients being supported with the Eldercare service and Sherdley Medical Practice. The practice is based in one of the more deprived areas when compared to other practices nationally.

From the 1/04/16 the practice was open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Prior to this the practice were open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 12pm on Saturday mornings. Prior to this inspection the practice had secured a three year contract and advised they would be reviewing all of their literature and website to update and advise patients of their opening hours. Appointments were offered from 8am however following the securement of their contract the practice staff advised that appointment times would be revised and updated with patients. The practice offers a range of services including flu vaccinations and learning disability health checks.

Patients requiring GP services outside of normal working hours are referred on to the St Helens Rota who are the local out of hours provider. The practice has an Alternative Provider Medical Services contract (APMS).

Updated 11 January 2017

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Aspect Health Ltd on the 8 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as ‘Good.’

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

• There was an open and transparent approach to reporting and recording significant events.

• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed for example, arrangements to safeguard vulnerable patients, keeping medicines safe and managing infection control.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Patients were positive about the practice and the staff team for both services provided within Sherdley Medical practice and Eldercare services. They said they were treated with dignity and respect and felt involved in decisions about their treatment.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and complaint records showed good responses to formal complaints.

• The practice had purpose built, state of the art facilities and was equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice had good positive engagement and regular communication with their patients and staff. They acted positively in response to their feedback.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

Update training records for all staff working within the service.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 11 January 2017

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

• Clinical staff had lead roles in chronic disease management and patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority.

• Home visits and urgent appointments were provided for patients with enhanced needs.

• Indicators for the care of diabetic patients were in line with local and national averages.

• The practice held regular multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss patients with complex needs for both services for Sherdley Medical Centre and Eldercare.

Updated 11 January 2017

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

• The percentage of women aged 25-65 whose notes record that a cervical screening test has been performed in the last five years, was comparable to local clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the national average of 81%.

• The service tailored its support to patients with specific needs including complex care. The service does not include children within its service for Eldercare.

Updated 11 January 2017

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

• The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population.

• The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.

• The service for Eldercare offered tailored support to vulnerable patients and older patients over 65 years in the community delivering a mobile service directly to their home. Patients supported by Eldercare services were able to choose and determine their plan of care including palliative care. 82% of patients died in their declared preferred place of care. Eldercare offered innovative practice and a holistic approach to their care. The service differed to traditional practice and had a high prevalence of patients with complex needs.

• The practice had identified those patients at risk of unplanned hospital admission and had agreed care plans in place for these patients.

Updated 11 January 2017

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students).

• The needs of the working age population and those recently retired had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible and flexible.

• The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflects the needs for this age group.

• The practice offered extended open hours including Saturday mornings. Patients are offered telephone consultations for those patients who preferred to call the GP.

Updated 11 January 2017

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

• The practice supported patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• The practice had a system in place to follow up patients who did not attend appointments.

• Staff had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 11 January 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 who had special needs such as patients with learning disabilities, palliative care and patients who were carers.

• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability and annual multi-disciplinary health checks to the 19 patients registered with the practice.

• The practice informed patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children. Staff were aware of their responsibilities regarding information sharing, documentation of safeguarding concerns and how to contact relevant agencies.

• The practice used the ‘Gold Standard Framework’ (this is a systematic evidence based approach to improving the support and palliative care of patients nearing the end of their life) to ensure patients received appropriate care.