Riverside Medical Practice

Updated 4 February 2016

Riverside Medical practice is in the centre of Stockton and has high levels of deprivation, as a consequence there is are high levels of long term conditions and drug and alcohol issues. There are 3800 patients on the practice list and the majority of patients are of white British background. There are a higher proportion of patients between the ages of 19 to 60 on the patient list compared to the practice average across England.

There are two GP partners, one (female), and one (male). There are also three nurse practitioners, one practice nurse and one health care assistant (all female). There is a practice manager who is supported by reception, medicines management, and secretarial and other administration staff including an apprentice.

The practice is open from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. The practice provides extended hour between 7am and 8 am four days per week. We saw that appointments can be booked by the telephone, walking into the practice and on line. Patients requiring a GP outside of normal working hours are advised to contact the GP out of hour’s service provided by Northern doctors via the NHS 111 service. The practice has a General Medical Service (GMS) contract.

Updated 4 February 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Riverside Medical Practice on 8 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. This means providers must be open and transparent with service users about their care and treatment, including when it goes wrong.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice provided acupuncture for patients suffering from back pain and to help alleviate symptoms of the menopause.

• The practice provided a dermoscopy service within the practice to reduce the number of referrals to the acute hospital service.

• The practice provided joint care for those suffering from substance misuse. One of the GPs had undergone further training in managing this group of patient.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure recruitment arrangements include all necessary employment checks for all staff.

• Ensure the lessons learn from significant event analysis is shared with all staff.

• Ensure staff meetings and action from these meetings are recorded.

Ensure staff are clear about who is responsible for lead roles and who to contact when the named person is not working.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 4 February 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 proportion of patients on the diabetes register with a record of foot examinations in the preceding 12 months was 92% which was below 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 4 February 2016

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

• 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.

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• 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 proportion of women aged 24 -64 who had had cervical screening performed was 82 % above the national average of 81%.

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

• We saw positive examples of joint working with midwives, health visitors and school nurses.

Updated 4 February 2016

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

• The practice offered pro-active, 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 also provided input intothirteen care home with weekly visits to three.

• Every patient over 75 had a named GP.

• Patients who were carers were identified and added to the carers’ register. Information about support groups and useful contact details was provided.

Updated 4 February 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 offered early morning appointments.

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

Updated 4 February 2016

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

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  The proportion of patients with mental illness and other psychoses who had had a comprehensive agreed care plan documentsin the last 12 months was 100% compared with the national average of 88%.

• 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 4 February 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 homeless people, and 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.