Archived: Dr Susan Mathew Also known as Kingsway Surgery

Updated 22 June 2017

Dr Susan Mathew, also known as Kingsway Surgery is situated in South Woodham Ferrers, in Chelmsford, Essex. It provides GP services to approximately 4400 patients living in South Woodham Ferrers. There is also a branch surgery located at Anson Close Surgery, 3 Anson Close, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5YJ. This surgery was not visited as part of this inspection. The practice holds a General Medical Services contract (GMS) with the NHS.

The practice population has a slightly lower number of children aged 0 to 18 years than the England average. It has a comparable number of patients aged over 65 years and fewer patients over 75 years. Economic deprivation levels affecting children and older people are much lower than average, as are unemployment levels. The life expectancies of men and women are higher than national averages.

There are a comparable number of patients on the practice’s list who have long standing health conditions and fewer patients with health-related problems in daily life than the England average.

The practice is registered as an individual provider with the Care Quality Commission. The GP provider is supported by one male GP who is a long-term locum. The practice also employs one practice nurse and a nurse prescriber. The practice manager is also a nurse prescriber and holds weekly clinics in addition to her practice manager role.

Administrative support consists of a part-time practice manager and an audit clerk, as well a number of reception and administrative staff.

The main practice, Kingsway Surgery is open from 8am until 6.30pm every weekday except Thursday, when it is open until 7:30pm. The branch surgery at Anson Close is open from 08:30am until 12:30pm on a Tuesday and Wednesday.

Appointments are available with a GP or nurse from 9:00am to 11:30am in the morning and from 4:00pm to 6:30pm Monday to Friday. The practice offers later appointments with a GP or nurse on a Thursday evening, until 7:30pm.

The practice has opted out of providing 'out of hours’ services which are now provided by Adastra, another healthcare provider. Patients can also contact the NHS 111 service to obtain medical advice if necessary.

Updated 22 June 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a focused desk-based inspection of Dr Susan Mathew, also known as Kingsway Surgery on 15th August 2016 to check that improvements had been made.

At our previous inspection of 25th January 2016, the practice was rated as good overall. It was rated as good for providing effective, caring, responsive and well-led services, although it was rated as requires improvement for providing safe services. As a result of our inspection of 25th January  2016, the practice were issued with a requirement notice for improvement.

Necessary improvements have been made, and the practice is now rated as good across all domains.

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

• A legionella risk assessment had been carried out to check the risk of exposure to legionella at the practice;
• Patient Group Directions had been correctly signed to ensure that clinicians were authorised to administer certain medicines;
• A health and safety risk assessment had been carried out;
• The business continuity plan now contained telephone numbers for staff and other agencies. 

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 7 April 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.

• The percentage of patients with COPD who had received a review together with an assessment of breathlessness was 94%, which was better than the national average of 90%.

• The practice worked with community nurse specialists in the ongoing management of patients with long-term conditions, and reviewed these patients regularly.

• The percentage of patients with diabetes who had a foot examination and risk classification in the preceding 12 months was 95% which was better than the national average of 88%.

• 82% of patients diagnosed with asthma had an asthma review in the last 12 months. This was better than the national average of 75%.

Updated 7 April 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 who may be at risk of abuse.

• Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations. For children under two years, these were between 98% to 100% compared to local averages of 33% to 100%

• Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies.
• The practice worked closely with midwives and health visitors.

Updated 7 April 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.

• 72% of patients over 65 had received a seasonal flu vaccination. This was comparable to the national average of 73%.

• Patients who were frail were identified by the practice, and a care plan put in place. There were regular meetings with other professionals to manage the health of older patients when a need was identified.

• There were home visits and urgent appointments for those patients with enhanced needs.

• Senior health checks were offered to patients over 75.

Updated 7 April 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students).

• The practice was proactive in offering online services, such as the Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS) whereby prescriptions could be sent electronically to a pharmacy of the patient’s choice.

• 84% of women aged 25-64 had received a cervical screening test that had been performed in the preceding 5 years. This was better than the national average of 82%. The practice demonstrated how they encouraged uptake of the screening programme by offering flexible appointments.

• The practice was in the process of developing a text message reminder service.

• There was a full range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs for this age group.

• Appointments were available outside of working hours. There were later appointments with a GP or nurse on a Thursday evening, until 7:30pm.

Updated 7 April 2016

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

• All patients diagnosed with dementia had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, which was better that the national average of 89%.
• All patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had a comprehensive, agreed care plan in place, compared to a national average of 88%.

• All patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had their alcohol consumption recorded.

Updated 7 April 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability.

• Patients with a learning disability were identified and their needs were reviewed annually. Last year, the practice reviewed 7 out of the 8 patients with a learning disability.

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people.

• 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.