Archived: SSP Health Ltd

Updated 14 January 2016

Ashton Medical Centre has about 7,479 patients registered including the branch surgery. It is part of and managed by the SSP Health group of practices and is overseen Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). At the time of our inspection and the majority of patients were of white British background.

The practice is a two storey building with all clinical treatment taking place on the ground level which is fully accessible to those with mobility difficulties. There is car parking available with disable parking spaces.

There are four GPs (three male and one female), supported by one nurse practitioner (NP) , two nurses and assistant practitioner who provide clinical care to the patient population. There is also a practice manager, reception manager and a supporting administration and reception team. There is regular support for the practice from senior leadership team, including clinicians and managers, at SSP Health.

The practice is open 8am to 6.30 pm every weekday; with extended opening on Wednesdays till 8pm and Fridays opening at 7 am. Patients requiring a GP outside of normal working hours are advised to call NHS 111 to access out-of-hours service.

The practice has a Primary Medical Services (PMS) contract and also offers enhanced services for example: rotavirus and shingles immunisation /care plans, supporting patients with dementia.

Updated 14 January 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Ashton Medical centre on 1 December 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• 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.

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.

The area where the provider should make improvement to:

• Regularly maintain and clean carpets on the ground floor.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 14 January 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.

• The practice offered appointments of up to 60 minutes duration for patients with long term conditions

• Patients had a six monthly or annual review with either the GP and/or the nurse to check that their health and medication.

• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.

• The practice had registers in place for several long term conditions including diabetes and asthma.

• Patients were allocated specific practice nurses for the patient’s management of the condition.

• All these patients had a named GP and a structured annual review to check that their health and medicines 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 14 January 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.

• The practice has an early year fact sheet for all new parents in the practice and a childhood initiative scheme to support new parents in areas of emergency first aid. The scheme aims to reduce the need to access emergency services by new parents and guardians.

• The practice regularly liaised with health visitors who attended on a weekly basis. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies.

• Immunisation rates were high for all standard childhood immunisations.

• We saw good examples of joint working with midwives, health visitors and school nurses to support families.

• 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 patients who had a high number of A&E attendances.

Updated 14 January 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people.

• It was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.

• The practice offered a virtual ward round for all their patients in a residential/ nursing home

• The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population.

• Nursing staff had lead roles in chronic disease management. The practice had registers in place for several long term conditions including diabetes and asthma.

• There was a named GP for the over 75s with longer appointments when required

Updated 14 January 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students).

• The practice offered extended access to appointment for example on Wednesday evenings till 8pm, and Friday mornings the practice first appointment being at 7am.

• 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 14 January 2016

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 told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• It 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 14 January 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

• Staff were aware of their responsibilities regarding information sharing, documentation of safeguarding concerns and had a safeguarding lead and deputy.
• The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including homeless people and also the carers of these patients.
• The practice nurse worked close to educate and improve access to the most vulnerable patients.
• The practice worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable patients.
• Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children.
• Practice had disabled access and car parking