Archived: The Meadows Surgery

Updated 20 April 2018

The Meadows Surgery situated at Meadow Lane, Thrapston, Kettering, Northamptonshire is a GP practice which provides primary medical care for approximately 5,000 patients living in Thrapston and the surrounding areas.

The Meadows Surgery provide primary care services to local communities under a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, which is a nationally agreed contract between general practices and NHS England. The practice population is predominantly white British along with a small ethnic population of Asian and Eastern European origin.

The practice has two partners, consisting of one male GP and a female Registered Manager. There is a female salaried GP as well as one long term female locum GP. There are two advanced nurse practitioners and two practice nurses. The nursing team is supported by a health care assistant. There is a practice manager who is supported by a deputy and a team of administrative and reception staff. The practice is in the process of reviewing practice management and expects to finalise arrangements in due course. Interim arrangements are in place during the review period. The local NHS trust provides health visiting and community nursing services to patients at this practice.

The practice operates out of a purpose built building. Patient care is provided on the ground floor. There is step free access to the main entrance with sensor controlled automatic doors. There is a car park with adequate disabled parking available.

The practice is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm. The practice offers extended opening on Monday until 7.30pm and on Tuesday from 7am. There are a variety of access routes including telephone consultations, on the day appointments and advance pre bookable appointments.

When the practice is closed services are provided by Integrated Care 24 Limited via the 111.

Updated 20 April 2018

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Meadows Surgery on 25 July 2017. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the June 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Meadows Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 21 March 2018 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach in the regulation that we identified in our previous inspection on 25 July 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

The provider had resolved the concerns for responsive and well-led services identified at our inspection on 25 July 2017 which applied to everyone using this practice, including the population groups. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this. Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The process to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the services being provided, in particular the meeting structures that supported the governance framework including terms of reference, frequency and appropriateness of notes/minutes were now implemented and formalised.

Additionally where we previously told the practice they should make improvements our key findings were as follows:

• A review of the immunisation status of clinical and non-clinical staff had been completed. A documented process was evident which ensured eligible staff were protected against transmissible diseases.

• The practice had strengthened the way they identified and supported carers and was working towards the bronze award for investors in carers GP surgery accreditation which recognised excellence in identifying and supporting carers.

• A system to record verbal complaints had been introduced in the revised complaints procedure so the practice was able to record and review all sources of complaints, respond appropriately and learn from complaints.

• The practice had monitored patient feedback especially in relation to access to appointments. A practice commissioned patient satisfaction survey showed increased levels of satisfaction.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

In addition the provider should:

• Continue to monitor patient satisfaction in relation to access to appointments paying particular attention to matching capacity of clinical staff available to patient demands.

• Continue to make patients aware of the different ways appointments could be made, for example online.

• Continue to monitor the effectiveness of the meeting structures that supported the governance framework including making available protected time for staff to attend meetings, and ways of communicating important changes and developments between scheduled meetings.

• Complete the review of practice management and ensure practice staff are kept informed of any changed arrangements both interim and permanent.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018