Dr Poonam Chand Sharma

Updated 20 April 2016

Dr Poonam Chand Sharma Practice is located within a health centre, which houses two other GP practices in a residential area of East London. There are 2958 patients registered with the practice. The practice is a part of Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group.

The practice has one full time male GP covering nine sessions per week, three part time female practice nurses covering five sessions a week, a practice manager, an assistant practice manager that also works as a receptionist and two part time receptionists. The practice operated under a General Medical Services Contract (a contract between NHS England and general practices for delivering general medical services and is the most common form of GP contract).

The practice was open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 7:00pm; the phone lines were open from 9:00am to 6:30pm. Appointment times were as follows:

• Monday 9:00am to 11:30am and 4:30pm to 7:00pm.

• Tuesday 9:00am to 11:30am and 4:30 to 7:00pm.

• Wednesday 9:00am to 11:30am and 4:30pm to 6:30pm

• Thursday 9:00am to 11:30am. Doors close at 1:30pm

• Friday 9:00am to 11:30am and 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

The out of hours provider covers calls made whilst the practice is closed.

Dr Poonam Chand Sharma’s practice operate regulated activities from one location and is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide diagnostics and screening procedures, maternity and midwifery services, Treatment of disease disorder or injury and surgical procedures.

Updated 20 April 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Poonam Chand Sharma practice on 15 December 2015. 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 safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• 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 said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• 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 proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Ensure that there is an on-going programme of two cycle audit to demonstrate quality improvement.

• Ensure the appropriate pre-employment checks are sought and a record kept.

• Consider advertising translation services.

• Review patient access to female GP

• Ensure annual infection control audits are carried out in line with national guidelines.

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 20 April 2016

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

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

• The percentage of patients on the diabetes register with a record of a foot examination and risk classification within the preceding 12 months was 96% compared with the national average of 88%.

• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.

• All these patients had a named GP and 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 20 April 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of families.

• There were systems in place to identify and follow up children living in disadvantaged circumstances and who were at risk, for example, children and young people who had a high number of A&E attendances. Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations.

• Patients told us that children and young people were treated in an age-appropriate way and were recognised as individuals, and we saw evidence to confirm this.

• The percentage of women aged 25-64 whose notes record that cervical screening test has been performed in the preceding five years was 89% compared with the national average of 81%.

• Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies.

Updated 20 April 2016

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 practice took part in the avoiding unplanned admissions direct enhanced service, which means they have personalised care plans and are reviewed shortly after discharge from hospital.

Updated 20 April 2016

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, those recently retired and students had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care.

• 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 held extended hours surgeries twice a week and was a part of a local network of practices that jointly offered patients appointments out of hours and on weekends.

Updated 20 April 2016

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

• The percentage of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses who have a comprehensive agreed care plan documented in their record in the preceding 12 months was 100% compared with the national average of 88%.

• 86% of patients diagnosed with dementia who had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, which is comparable to the national average of 84%.

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.

• The practice carried out advance care planning for patients with dementia.

• The practice had told 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 had attended accident and emergency where they may have been experiencing poor mental health.

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

Updated 20 April 2016

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 multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people.

• The practice informed vulnerable 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 in normal working hours and out of hours.