Newport Medical Group

Updated 3 June 2016

Newport Medical Group is registered with the Care Quality Commission. We previously inspected this practice as part of our comprehensive inspection on 25 March and 29 April 2015. We rated the practice as requires improvement for the delivery of safe services because medicine directives were not up to date. We also identified areas where the provider should consider action for further improvement.

We carried out follow up inspection of this service on 14 April 2016. This review was carried out to check that improvements to meet legal requirements and recommendations planned by the practice after our previous inspection had been made.

Updated 3 June 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Newport Medical Group on 25 March and 29 April 2015. We found the practice was in breach of legal requirements. The breaches related to Regulation 12 Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 Safe care and treatment.

Following the inspection the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet the legal requirements.

We undertook this focused inspection on 14 April 2016 to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met the legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Newport Medical Group on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

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

• Patient Group Directives for nurses to administer medicines were up to date and relevant.

• Patients are made aware when appointments are booked with the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and not a GP.

• Chaperone policy was reviewed to ensure consistency.

• Appropriate cleaning systems were put in place to monitor if cleaning was being done according to standards set by the practice.

  There was an assistant practice manager who had taken over many responsibilities within the practice

• The practice complaints policy was reviewed and appropriate system were put in place to respond to complaints in a timely manner.

• The practice had reviewed it whistle blowing policy to ensure it was adequate.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 6 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions. The practice had a higher than average number of patients with diabetes. The practice had employed a specialist diabetes nurse and held specific clinics for patients with diabetes. The practice also employed advanced nurse practitioners trained to manage common medical problems. They were able to offer enhanced diagnostic services for chronic disease management such as spirometry for asthma. Clinical staff had lead roles in chronic disease management and patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority. Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed for patients with long term conditions. Practice staff held a register of patients who had long term conditions and carried out regular reviews. There was a recall system in place when patients failed to attend for their reviews. For patients with the most complex needs, GPs worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 6 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people. Milestones were assessed as per the child health surveillance programme. 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. Practice staff liaised with local health visitors who were located within the main site (Sparkbrook Health Centre) to offer a full health surveillance programme for children. Checks were also made to ensure maximum uptake of childhood immunisations. The practice nurse offered immunisations to children in line with the national immunisation programme.

Updated 6 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. The practice offered personalised care to meet the needs of its population. All elderly patients above the age of 75 had a named accountable GP to co-ordinate care and services using a multi-disciplinary approach. The practice participated in a national immunisation programme to vaccinate patients aged 70 and 79 against shingles. Patients at risk of an unplanned hospital admission had a care plan in place, which was regularly reviewed and updated. Housebound patients were visited so they could be given information and advice to prevent hospital admissions. The wishes of patients requiring end of life care were met by the GPs and multi-disciplinary team. Telephone consultations were available so patients could call and speak with a GP if they did not wish to or were unable to attend the practice.

Updated 6 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students). The practice offered patients extended appointments three times a week to meet the needs of this population group. Appointments were available on any of the three sites if it was convenient for the patient. Telephone appointments were offered for patients unable to attend due to work with a convenient follow up appointment if needed. Online booking of appointments and ordering of prescriptions were not available. However, arrangements were being made to address this. The practice offered a range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs of this age group. This included health checks for patients aged 40 to 70 years of age.

Updated 6 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia. The practice had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency (A&E) where they may have been experiencing poor mental health. The practice offered health checks to patients on the mental health register. Practice staff worked in conjunction with the local mental health team to ensure patients had the support they needed. GPs had the necessary skills and information to assess and treat or refer patients with poor mental health including training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to ensure all care provided was in patient’s best interests.

Updated 6 August 2015

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. It had carried out annual health checks for patients with a learning disability and most of these patients had received a follow-up where issues were identified. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. GPs carried out regular home visits to patients who were housebound and to other patients on the day they had been requested. Vulnerable patients such as those without a fixed abode were able to register at the practice.