Archived: The Medical Centre

Updated 18 August 2017

The Medical Centre is a two site practice located in the London Borough of Ealing; both practices are registered and known as ‘The Medical Centre’. The main practice is based in the Southall area with the branch site located in Hounslow. The practices have a combined patient list size of approximately 8,500 patients.

The practices are registered as a partnership with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide the regulated activities of: treatment of disease, disorder or injury; surgical procedures; diagnostic and screening procedures; family planning services; and maternity and midwifery services at both locations.

The practices are run by three GP partners (female and male). The partners are supported by; one salaried GP (female), three nurses, one healthcare assistant (HCA), one practice manager and five reception staff. The GP partners collectively work 14 clinical sessions at the Southall site and 12 clinical sessions at the Hounslow site. The salaried GPs worked eight clinical sessions at the Hounslow site. All staff, clinical and non-clinical, work across both sites.

The Southall main practice is open between: 8am – 6:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and

Friday. Appointments were available from 8:30am – 6:30pm.

The Hounslow branch practice is open between: 8am – 6:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and

Friday. Appointments were available from 8:30am – 6:30pm.

Updated 18 August 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Medical Centre on 15 March 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. However, within the key question ‘safe’ some areas were identified as ‘requires improvement’, as the practice was not meeting the legal requirements for the provision of safe care and treatment.

The practice was issued requirement notices under Regulation 12, Safe care and treatment. The full comprehensive inspection on 15 March 2016 can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for the Medical Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was a focused desk based review carried out on 31 July 2017 to assess whether the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations we identified in our previous inspection on 15 March 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also any additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

The practice had ensured they had access to a defibrillator and were carrying out checks on a regular basis to ensure it was in good working order.

The practice supplied an action plan and a range of documents which demonstrated they are now meeting the requirements of Regulation 12 of the Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014; Safe care and treatment.

In addition improvements had been made in the following areas we had recommended :

• The practice had improved its online access to patients to enable patients to book appointment and order repeat prescriptions.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 10 August 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.

• Performance for diabetes related indicators was in line with the national average, for instance:

• 66% of patients with diabetes on the register had their blood sugar recorded as well controlled, this was lower than the national average of 76%.

• 93% of patients with diabetes on the register had a recorded foot examination and risk classification; this was higher than the national average of 88%.

• 95% of patients with diabetes on the register had a recorded blood pressure reading, this was higher than 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 10 August 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.

• 87% of patients diagnosed with asthma had a review in the last 12 months this was higher than the national average of 75%.

• 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.

• 90% of women aged 25-64 had it recorded on their notes that a cervical screening test was performed in the preceding 5 years; this was higher than the national average of 82%.

• 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 and health visitors.

Updated 10 August 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.

• 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 10 August 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 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.

• The practice offered extended opening hours at the Southall location every Tuesday and at the Hounslow location every Thursday.

Updated 10 August 2016

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

• 88% of patients diagnosed with dementia had a recorded review in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months; this was higher than the national average of 84%.

• 93% of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had their alcohol consumption recorded in the preceding 12 months; this was higher than the national average of 90%.

• 93% of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had a comprehensive, agreed care plan recorded in the last 12 months; this was higher than 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 10 August 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, travellers 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.