Woodhill Surgery

Updated 3 August 2016

Woodhill Surgery is a practice offering general medical services to the population of Mayfield, East Sussex. There are approximately 3,200 registered patients. The practice is located within a property which has limited the practice in making alterations which would benefit patients. Due to this issue the practice is actively looking to relocate the surgery to another location. The practice is part of NHS High Weald Lewes Havens CCG.

The practice population has a higher number of patients between 10-19 and 50-85+ years of age than the national and local CCG average. The practice population also shows a lower number of patients between the age of 20-39 years of age than the national and local CCG average. There are a comparable number of patients with a long standing health condition in relation to both CCG and national averages. The percentage of registered patients suffering deprivation (affecting both adults and children) is lower than the average for England.

Woodhill Surgery is run by four partner GPs (three male and one female). The practice is also supported by two female salaried GPs, a practice nurse, a team of administrative and reception staff, an assistant practice manager and a practice manager.

The practice provides a number of services for its patients including; asthma clinics, diabetes clinics, coronary heart disease clinics, minor surgery, child immunisation clinics, new patient checks and holiday vaccinations and advice.

Services are provided from one location:

Woodhill Surgery, Station Road, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20 6BW

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm. The practice has extended hours on Saturday mornings between 7.30am and 11.30am once per month. During the times when the practice is closed arrangements are in place for patients to access care from IC24 which is an Out of Hours provider. Access to this service is by calling NHS 111.

Updated 3 August 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Woodhill Surgery on 29 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• 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.
• Safe arrangements were in place for staff recruitment that protected patients from risks of harm.
• 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. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• 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.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 3 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.
• Data from 2014/15 showed the percentage of patients on the diabetes register, with a record of a foot examination and risk classification within the preceding 12 months was 100% compared to the CCG average of 87% and a national average of 88%.
• Three GPs at the practice had attended specialised diabetes training and a practice nurse had experience providing a specialist diabetic nurse clinic.
• 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.
• The practice ensured all annual health reviews were undertaken for children at a local learning disability home.

Updated 3 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 higher for all standard childhood immunisations.
• 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.
• Data showed the percentage of women aged 25-64 whose notes record that a cervical screening test had been performed in the preceding 5 years was 86% compared to the CCG average of 83% and a 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.
• The practice ensured that children needing emergency appointments were seen on the day.

Updated 3 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.
• The practice held regular multi-disciplinary team meetings to oversee the care of frail, vulnerable elderly patients.
• The practice visited housebound patients to administer flu and other vaccines.

Updated 3 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 daily telephone consultations for patients who may find it otherwise difficult to attend the surgery.
• The practice offered electronic prescribing which afforded patients the choice of where to collect prescriptions from.

Updated 3 August 2016

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

• 93% of patients diagnosed with dementia who had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, which is better than both the CCG average of 83% and the national average of 84%.
• Data showed the percentage of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses who have a comprehensive, agreed care plan documented in the record, in the preceding 12 months was 100% which was higher than the CCG average of 88% and the national average of 88%.
• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients 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.
• The practice followed up any patient with a mental health condition that did not attend an appointment.
• Staff had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 3 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 other health care professionals in the case management of vulnerable patients.
• The practice informed vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.
• The practice had a carer’s lead individual who ensured that any recognised carer received a pack advising of available support.
• 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.