French Weir Health Centre

Updated 27 August 2015

French Weir Health Centre, French Weir Avenue, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1NW; is located just off Staplegrove Road, close to the town centre of Taunton. The Practice area includes all of the following geographical areas. To the North, Bishops Lydeard, East Lydeard, Yarford and Kingston St Mary. To the East, Kingston St Mary, Rowford, Cheddon Fitzpaine. To the South East, Obridge to Chritchard Parkway, Billetfield, Mary Street. The West bounday of Vivary Park Golf Course North toward Trull Post Office. To the South West, Comeytrowe Road, West to Rumwell, North to Hillfarrance. And to the West, Hillfarrance, Cotford St Luke, Tatham and Bishops Lydeard.

There is level access into the practice and to all patient accessible areas; toilets are accessible with facilities for patients with disabilities. There is parking on site. There are a range of administrative and staff areas including a training area. The practice is a registered GP training location.

There are nine partners in the practice equating to eight whole time employees. Each GP holds a patient list and has a ‘buddy’ GP who knows the patients of their buddy. Five GP’s are female and four are male. A female registrar GP is also currently working in the practice. In addition there is a nurse practitioner, five practice nurses and three health care assistants. The practice also employs a team of reception and administrative staff who are supported by a practice manager and reception and secretarial manager.

The practice has a General Medical Services GMS contract to deliver health care services; the contract includes enhanced services such as extended opening hours, alcohol services, dementia services and the childhood vaccination and immunisation scheme. This contract acts as the basis for arrangements between the NHS Commissioning Board and providers of general medical services in England.

The practice is open between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm each day with extended hours until 8:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The practice is also open on Saturday mornings between 8:30 am and 12:00 midday. All extended hours and Saturday appointments are for pre-booked appointments; full details of opening hours are on the practices website. The practice has opted out of providing out-of-hours services to their own patients. This service is provided by Northern Doctors Urgent Care and patients are directed to this service by the practice during out of hours.

Updated 27 August 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out our inspection of French Weir Health Centre on 21 July 2015 specifically to follow up on the findings of our last inspection carried out on 4 and 11 November 2014. The report for this inspection was published on 30 April 2015.

Overall we found the practice is rated as good with examples of safe recruitment practices and other aspects of safe patient treatment and support. Patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the practice during our inspection.

Our key findings were as follows:

There were reliable systems, processes and practices in place to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse for example;

• There were systems, processes and practices put in place and communicated to staff that were identified as essential to keep people safe. Staff were trained and made aware of these systems, processes and practices. The systems, processes and practices were monitored and improved when required.
• Recruitment processes and policy were robust and recruitment was carried out in accordance with the policy for all employee appointments.
• There were arrangements in place to safeguard adults and children from abuse that reflect relevant legislation and local requirements. Staff demonstrated they understood their responsibilities and adhered to the practices safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect by a staff team who understood patients’ needs.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice