Wellington Road Surgery

Updated 21 October 2016

Wellington Road Surgery is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a GP partnership provider in Newport, Shropshire. The practice holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England. A GMS contract is a contract between NHS England and general practices for delivering general medical services and is the commonest form of GP contract. The practice area is one of low deprivation when compared with the national and local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area. At the time of our inspection the practice had 14,108 patients. The practice had a lower than average number of patients aged 0 to 44 year and a higher number than average of patients aged 45 years and over.

The practice staffing comprises of:

• Seven GP partners (five male and two female) and one salaried male GP.
• Four female practice nurses and two female healthcare assistants.
• Four dispensary staff.
• A practice manager, supported by a team of secretarial staff, receptionists and administrative staff.

The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. The telephones are answered between 8.30am and 6pm. GP clinics run between 8.30am and 11.30am and 4.30pm to 6pm, with the option to book appointments up to 6.45pm, or 7pm with the duty GP. The dispensary is open Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

The practice has opted out of providing cover to patients in the out-of-hours period. During this time services are provided by Shropdoc.

Updated 21 October 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Wellington Road Surgery on 7 September 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Each GP had their own individual patient list, which enabled continuity of care and the development of the doctor / patient relationship.
• Patients who met the criteria (who lived further than a mile away from the nearest pharmacy) were able to have their prescriptions dispensed at the practice
• 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 been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients told us they were satisfied with the care provided by the practice and said their dignity and privacy was respected. They told us that they were able to get appointments when they needed them.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• 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.

There are areas of practice where the provider should make improvements.

The provider should:

• Consider introducing a system to monitor the collection of prescriptions for controlled drugs.
• Ensure all GPs complete their mandatory training, including training on infection prevention and control.
• Continue with the development of a patient participation group.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 21 October 2016

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

• The practice nurses had lead roles in chronic disease management and worked with the GPs to support patients with long term conditions.
• The practice maintained registers of patients with long term conditions. Patients were offered a structured annual review to check their health and medicines needs were being met.
• Performance in the five diabetes related indicators were comparable to or better than the national average. For example: The percentage of patients with diabetes, on the register, in whom a specific blood test was recorded was 80% compared with the national average of 77%.
• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.
• 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 21 October 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 who were at risk, for example families with children in need or on children protection plans. .
• Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies. Same day emergency appointments were available for children.
• There were screening and vaccination programmes in place and the practice’s immunisation rates
• Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for 2014/2015 showed that 82% of women aged 25-64 had received a cervical screening test in the preceding five years. This was the same as the national average.
• The practice offered family planning and routine contraception services.
• The practice provided a weekly surgery for pupils who lived in at the local grammar school.

Updated 21 October 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 visited patients who lived in the local care homes on a weekly / two weekly basis. Each care home had a named GP who visited to provide continuity of care.
• Patients who lived in care homes with long term conditions and / or dementia were offered regular reviews.
• The practice worked closely with the Age Concern Care Navigator who held drop in sessions bi-weekly at the practice. Care Navigators assist patients who may feel lonely or isolated, have little local support, have been recently bereaved or who wish to find out about services which may be available to them. They can help put in place support or find activities provided by voluntary and statutory services.

Updated 21 October 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 routine pre-bookable and on the day appointments. Appointments with GPs were available up to 6.45pm each week day.
• The practice operated as fast track treatment scheme, whereby patients with specific conditions were seen by the practice nurses rather than the GPs.
• 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 21 October 2016

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

• Eighty three per cent diagnosed with dementia had had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, which was similar the national average of 84%.
• The practice carried out advance care planning for patients with dementia.
• Performance for the mental health related indicators were comparable to the national average.
• The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. Patients and their carers were signposted to the care navigator.
• Patients had access to a number of local services at the practice to assist them with the management of their mental health, including a weekly memory clinic and counselling services.

Updated 21 October 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 or identified as vulnerable.
• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability and annual health checks.
• The practice provided medical services for temporary patients receiving care provided by a national veterans’ mental health charity and children at the local grammar school.
• The staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children. The 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.