Background to this inspection
Updated
6 December 2018
The GP surgery within Halesowen Health Centre is known locally as Stourside Medical Practice. The practice is based within the Halesowen area of Birmingham. Up until September 2018, there had been three surgery locations that form the practice; these consisted of the main practice at Halesowen Health Centre and branch sites at Coombswood surgery and Tenlands Road Surgery. The two branch surgeries were closed in September 2018 and the practice now operates from a single site.
The practice offers General Medical Services (GMS) through a contract with NHS England. The practice has expanded its contracted obligations to provide enhanced services to patients. Enhanced services are services, which require an enhanced level of service provision above what is required under core GMS contracts.
There are currently 6,320 patients of various ages registered and cared for across the practice. The practice has more patients aged 40 to 69 than average and less patients aged under 14 than average. The practice has fewer unemployed patients of working age than the average. The practice has fewer than average patients with long-term conditions. The local area is within the fifth less deprived decile when compared with both local and national statistics. These indicators mean that the patients at the practice may make fewer demands on the service.
The practice website has up to date information about the practice team and the opening times.
The practice had opted out of providing out of hours care. Arrangements were in place for patients
at this practice to access a GP at weekends through a scheme for extended hours provided by
‘hub’ practices within the locality. Out of hours care is also provided by Malling Healthcare
(provided within Russells Hall hospital) and this can be accessed by dialling NHS 111. Patients
can also attend the walk-in service at Russells Hall Hospital.
Updated
6 December 2018
This practice is rated as Good overall. (In November 2017, the practice was previously rated requires improvement, with good in providing safe, effective and well-led services and requires improvement in providing caring and responsive services).
The key questions at this inspection are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? - Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Halesowen Health Centre on 6 November 2017 as part of our inspection programme. Overall the practice was rated as requires improvement with requires improvement for providing caring and responsive services. The service was rated as good for providing safe, effective and well-led services. The full comprehensive report on the November 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Halesowen Health Centre.
This inspection was an announced comprehensive inspection carried out on 22 October 2018 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to those legal requirements and additional findings made since our last inspection.
At this inspection we found:
- The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
- The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence-based guidelines.
- The practice had a proactive approach in helping patients to live healthier lives.
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- Patients had access to care when needed but some found that the appointment system was confusing.
- Staff stated they felt respected, supported and valued and there was an open culture within the practice.
- There were clear responsibilities and roles of accountability to support good governance and management.
- There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Consider further training for reception staff in the identification of serious medical conditions.
- Continue to explore how patient satisfaction rates can be improved.
Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice
Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.