Background to this inspection
Updated
12 February 2020
The University of Lincoln Health Centre (ULHC) provides services to approximately 12149 registered patients in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, the significant majority of which are students aged between 17 and 26 years old. University of Lincoln students and staff plus partners and dependents of both, are eligible to register as patients. The practice wasregistered to deliver diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning services, maternity and midwifery services, services for everyone, surgical procedures, treatment of disease, disorder or injury regulated activities.
The practice is run by the GP partners, a Clinical Lead, 5 salaried GP’s and the Chief Operating Officer. They are supported by a lead nurse practitioner, three nurse practitioners, two practice nurses and a healthcare assistant. The practice employs a practice manager, a deputy practice manager and a secretarial and administration team.
The University of Nottingham Health Service is the name of the registered provider and the practice holds an alternative provider medical services (APMS) contract with NHS England. Services are provided at The University of Lincoln Health Centre, 3 Campus Way, Lincoln Lincolnshire LN6 7GA and this location was inspected. The ULHC worked closely with The University of Nottingham Health Service who shared the same executive management team.
The practice is open from 7:30am – 6:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday the practice opens from 7:30am – 20:00pm. The phone lines operate between 8am and 6:30pm Monday to Friday. When the practice is closed patients are automatically directed to the GP out of hours service. Patients can also access advice via the NHS 111 service.
NHS Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (LWCCG) is responsible for improving the health of and the commissioning of health services for patients living in Lincoln, Gainsborough and the surrounding villages.
Updated
12 February 2020
We carried out a comprehensive inspection on 14 February 2018, but due to exceptional circumstances, the care Quality Commission was unable to complete the ratings and publication of the report, so we agreed with the practice to inspect again.
We then carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The University of Lincoln Health Centre on 12 December 2019
Our judgement of the quality of care at this service is based on a combination of what we found when we inspected, information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.
We have rated this practice as
good
overall. All population groups were also rated as good.
This inspection took place following an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 February 2018. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. A requirement notice was served in relation to breaches identified under Regulation 17: Good governance. We completed an announced inspection on 12 December 2019 to check on the areas identified in the requirement notice and to see if sufficient improvements had been made regarding these. The practice had taken the actions needed to comply with the legal requirements.
We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:
- what we found when we inspected
- information from our ongoing monitoring of data about
- services and
- information from the provider
We rated the practice as good for safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services because:
- The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
- Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
- Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
- The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
- The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of good quality, person-centre.
- There were comprehensive systems and processes for learning, continuous improvement and innovation.
We rated the population group of working age people (including students) as outstanding in responsive services, due to the work the practice was doing in relation to students at the university. All other population groups were rated as good.
While we did not find any breaches of regulation the practice should:
- Review the formal governance of clinical oversight and leadership
Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.