Archived: Dr Sunil Bhalla Also known as Dr SK Bhalla, Soho Health Centre

Updated 22 October 2015

Dr Sunil Bhalla provides primary medical services to approximately 4,600 patients within the local community of Handsworth.

The GP provides nine clinical sessions each week and is supported two locums who provide three more regular sessions per week. There is a practice nurse and two health care assistants (HCA). The practice manager is supported by four receptionists who work varying hours and who also carry out administration work.

The practice has a General Medical Service (GMS) contract with NHS England. A GMS contract means that patients are registered with the practice and not an individual GP but the practice will focus on delivery of quality clinical care and well managed services.

The practice opening hours are 9am until 1pm and 4pm until 6.30pm each day with the exception of Wednesdays when the practice closes for the day at 1pm. The GMS contract agreement indicates the practice should open earlier. Clinical sessions are from 9am until 12.15pm and 4pm until 6pm. Antenatal clinics are held by community midwives at an assessment centre that is convenient to the patient’s own post code.

The practice has opted out of providing out-of-hours services to their own patients. However, phone calls made to the practice between 1pm and 4pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are responded to by practice staff.

Updated 22 October 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of Dr Sunil Bhalla on 4 August 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we rated the practice as good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services and for the following population groups:

• Older people
• People with long term conditions
• Families, children and young people
• Working age people (including those recently retired and students)
• People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable
• People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

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

• There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety for example, infection control and health and safety procedures. Safeguarding concerns were identified and appropriate actions taken to safeguard patients.
• GPs shared the results of clinical audits with each other to promote better patient outcomes. Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff promoted health education and screening to empower patients to maintain their health.
• Patient care was provided by staff who had received appropriate training. Practice staff worked with other healthcare providers to deliver co-ordinated care and regularly reviewed patient’s care needs.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. The practice sought patient views about improvements that could be made to the service, including having a patient participation group (PPG).
• The practice had a clear vision which had quality of patient care and safety as its top priority. High standards were promoted and owned by all practice staff with evidence of team working across all roles.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 22 October 2015

The practice was rated good for people with long term conditions. Data informed us that the practice was above the national average for reviews of patients who had long term conditions. All patients who had appointments for health checks and reviews were contacted by phone the previous evening to remind them of the need to attend. Systems were in place to follow up on patients who were on regular prescriptions who did not attend (DNA) their review. Prescriptions were limited to a period of one week to encourage patients to attend their reviews. Practice staff made numerous attempts to contact and encourage all patients to attend their health checks or reviews. The practice did not limit itself to the number of attempts made. By sending out invitations to all patients aged 40+ year’s staff had diagnosed some who had early diabetes. The community matron called at the practice on alternate days to promote prompt referrals of vulnerable patients.

Updated 22 October 2015

The practice was rated good for 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 of harm. Practice staff were proactive in promoting the benefits of childhood vaccinations with parents. Health screening services and education about healthy living were promoted and offered to patients.

Updated 22 October 2015

The practice was rated good for providing services for older people. Staff offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of this patient group. All older patients had received annual health checks and where necessary, care, treatment and support arrangements were implemented that met their individual needs. Practice staff were responsive to the needs of older people, including offering home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 22 October 2015

The practice was rated as good for the care of working age people (including those recently retired and students). The practice offered online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs for this age group. Practice staff carried out NHS health checks for patients between the ages of 40 and 74 years. GPs offered advice by telephone each day for those patients who had difficulty in attending the practice. On line services were available for patients to book appointments and request repeat prescriptions.

Updated 22 October 2015

The practice was rated good for people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). All patients experiencing poor mental health had received an annual physical health check. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia. Clinical staff used screening tools to identify those patients who were at risk. All staff worked within the boundaries of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and had appropriate skills for supporting patients with dementia.

Updated 22 October 2015

The practice was rated good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with a learning disability. Annual health checks and longer appointments were available for people with a learning disability. Staff had been trained 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.