Richmond Hill Practice

Background to this inspection

Updated 6 January 2017

Richmond Hill Practice provides primary care services for 10,543 patients in the Lancashire town of Colne under a general medical services (GMS) contract with NHS England. The practice is part of the East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The practice is based on the first floor in Colne Health Centre, which opened in 2014. This building is shared with a variety of other local community services including podiatry, speech and language and sexual health services, as well as four other GP practices. Meeting rooms and treatment rooms are shared between the services. The property is maintained by NHS Property Services and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. There is a car park outside and access is good for patients with limited mobility. The practice also offered GP appointments in a consultation room attached to a local supermarket twice a week.

The practice team comprises seven GP partners, five male and two female, four female practice nurses and two health care assistants who also act as care navigators. A practice manager and team of 15 administrative staff support the clinical team. The practice has developed one receptionist to become a care coordinator. The practice is a training practice and supports medical students from local medical schools.

The practice is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 7am until 7:30pm, Wednesdays 7am until 6:30pm and Thursdays and Fridays 8am until 6:30pm.

The patient population is older on average than the England average, with more patients aged 50 years and older than average, and fewer patients aged 44 and under. Male and female life expectancy is just below East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and national averages (male: practice 77 years, England 79; female: practice 81 years, England 83).

Information published by Public Health England rates the level of deprivation within the practice population as three on a scale of one to 10 (level one represents the highest levels of deprivation and level 10 the lowest). East Lancashire has a higher prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, a disease of the lungs), smoking and smoking related ill-health, cancer, mental health and dementia than national averages.

When the practice is closed out of hours treatment is provided by East Lancashire Medical Services Ltd.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 6 January 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This is a focused desk top review of evidence supplied by Richmond Hill Practice also known as Colne Health Centre, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 0LJ), for a number of areas within the key question safe. This was conducted on 24 October 2016.

The practice was inspected on 28 July 2015. The inspection was a comprehensive inspection under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (HSCA). At that inspection, the practice was rated ‘good’ overall. However, within the key question safe three areas were identified as requires improvement, as the practice was not meeting the legislation at that time; Regulation 12 Safe care and treatment.

Procedures for vaccine storage did not meet current legislation and guidance. The practice had not carried out risk assessments for staff. Specifically there were no risk assessments for moving and handling and lone worker risk assessments for staff who were visiting patients in their own homes. The building manager was responsible for cleanliness and hygiene however, the practice did not have a formal cleaning check, including curtain replacement and ensuring no hazardous substances were in use.

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

During this desk top review, we found the practice to be good in providing safe services. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice