Betts Avenue Medical Group

Updated 4 May 2018

Care Quality Commission registered Betts Avenue Medical Group to provide primary care services.

The practice provides services to approximately 10,750 patients from two locations, which we visited as part of this inspection:

• Betts Avenue Medical Centre, 2 Betts Avenue, Benwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE15 6TQ
• Kenton Medical Centre, Kenton Centre, Sherringham Avenue, Kenton, Tyne and Wear, NE3 3QP

Betts Avenue Medical Group is a large practice providing care and treatment to patients of all ages, based on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract agreement for general practice. The practice is part of the NHS Newcastle Gateshead clinical commissioning group (CCG).

The practice has six GP partners (two male, four female). They employ two nurse prescribers, a practice nurse, two healthcare assistants, a practice manager and assistant practice manager, and 15 staff who carry out reception and administrative duties.

NHS 111 service and Vocare Limited (known locally as Northern Doctors Urgent Care) provide the service for patients requiring urgent medical care out of hours.

Information from Public Health England placed the area in which the practice is located in the second most deprived decile. In general, people living in more deprived areas tend to have a greater need for health services. Average male life expectancy at the practice is 76.8 years, compared to the national average of 79.2 years. Average female life expectancy at the practice is 80.7 years, compared to the national average of 83.2 years.

87.4% of the practice population were white, 1.4% were mixed race, 8% were Asian, 2% were black and 1.2% were other races.

Updated 4 May 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 2 December 2014 – Good)

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

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspections at Betts Avenue Medical Group and Kenton Medical Centre on 16 March 2018. This was as part of our ongoing 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 they provided. They ensured that 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 was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

The area where the provider should make improvements is:

• Ensure there are effective arrangements in place to manage the risks associated with breaking of the cold chain for vaccine storage at Betts Avenue Medical Centre.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 5 February 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions. There were emergency processes in place and referrals were made for patients whose health deteriorated suddenly. Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed. All these patients had a named GP and a structured annual review to check that their health and medication needs were being met. For those people with the most complex needs, the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 5 February 2015

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. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies. We saw good examples of joint working with midwives, health visitors and school nurses. Emergency processes were in place and referrals were made for children and pregnant women whose health deteriorated suddenly.

Updated 5 February 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. Nationally reported data showed the practice had good outcomes for conditions commonly found amongst older people. The practice offered personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population. The practice had written to patients over the age of 75 years to inform them who their named GP was. The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, including offering home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 5 February 2015

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.

Updated 5 February 2015

Patients experiencing poor mental health had received an annual physical health check. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health including those with dementia. The practice had care plans in place for patients with dementia.

The practice had sign-posted patients experiencing poor mental health to various support groups and third sector organisations. Information and leaflets about services were made available to patients within the practice.

Updated 5 February 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 learning disabilities. The practice had carried out health checks for people with learning disabilities. The practice offered longer appointments for people, if required.

The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. They had told 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.