The Portmill Surgery

Updated 27 March 2017

The Portmill Surgery provides primary medical services, including minor surgery, to approximately 14,300 patients in Hitchin and surrounding areas. Services are provided on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract (a nationally agreed contract).

The practice serves a lower than average population of those aged between 20 to 29 years, and a slightly higher than average population of those aged between 40 and 59 years. The population is 88% White British (2011 Census data). The area served is less deprived compared to England as a whole.

The practice team consists of eight GP Partners, five of which are female and three are male. There are four practice nurses, one nurse practitioners, who is qualified to prescribe certain medications, and two health care assistants. The non-clinical team consists of a practice manager, a finance and facilities manager, a reception supervisor and a team of administration and reception staff.

The Portmill Surgery has been approved to train doctors. The practice is open to patients between 8am and 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays. Appointments with a GP were available from approximately 8.30am to 11am and from 2pm to 6pm daily. Emergency appointments are available daily with the duty doctor. A telephone consultation service is also available for those who need urgent advice. The practice offers extended opening hours between 7am and 8am every Thursday and Friday, and from 6.30pm to 8pm one Monday each month and from 8am to 10am one Saturday each month.

Home visits are available to those patients who are unable to attend the surgery and the out of hours service is provided by Hertfordshire Urgent Care and can be accessed via the NHS 111 service. Information about this is available in the practice, on the practice website and on the practice telephone line.

Updated 27 March 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced focused inspection at The Portmill Surgery on 1 March 2017. This was to check that improvements had been made following the breaches of legal requirements we identified from our comprehensive inspection carried out on 22 June 2016. During our inspection in June 2016 we identified regulatory breaches in the safe care and treatment, staffing and governance at the practice.

This report only covers our findings in relation to the areas requiring improvement as identified on inspection in June 2016. You can read the report from this comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for The Portmill Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk. The areas identified as requiring improvement during our inspection in June 2016 were as follows:

• Ensure an appropriate system is in place for the safe use of prescription pads, and the management of medicines, including those used in an emergency.
• Ensure a Legionalla risk assessment is completed by a person competent to carry out the task. Implement any action required following the completion of the risk assessment and complete water temperature checks.
• Complete an assessment on the control of substances hazardous to health.
• Ensure that all staff employed are receiving an appraisal and essential training relevant to their role.
• Ensure an accessible and robust system is in place for receiving and responding to complaints.
• Create and maintain a record of fire alarm tests and fire drills carried out at the premises.

Our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 showed that improvements had been made and our key findings across the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice had an appropriate system in place for the safe use and management of medicines, including those used in an emergency. Prescription pads were securely stored and an effective system was in place to monitor their use.
• A legionella risk assessment had been completed by an external company and all of the required work and checks had been managed appropriately.
• The practice had completed an assessment on the control of substances hazardous to health.
• All staff members had completed essential training relevant to their role and had received an appraisal.
• The practice had an effective system in place for receiving and responding to complaints, which was in line with national guidance.
• Fire alarm tests and fire drills were carried out on a regular basis and the practice and landlord maintained a record of this.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 27 March 2017

At our comprehensive inspection on 22 June 2016 we found that the practice offered effective care to patients with long term conditions.

However, breaches of legal requirements were identified and improvements needed to be made to ensure the practice provided safe services and was well-led. During our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 we found the practice had taken action to improve. Consequently the practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions as they received care that was safe and well-led.

Updated 27 March 2017

At our comprehensive inspection on 22 June 2016 we found that the practice provided a good service to families, children and young people including those children living in disadvantaged circumstances and who were at risk.

However, breaches of legal requirements were identified and improvements needed to be made to ensure the practice provided safe services and was well-led. During our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 we found the practice had taken action to improve. Consequently the practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people as they received care that was safe and well-led.

Updated 27 March 2017

At our comprehensive inspection on 22 June 2016 we found that the practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population.

However, breaches of legal requirements were identified and improvements needed to be made to ensure the practice provided safe services and was well-led. During our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 we found the practice had taken action to improve. Consequently the practice is rated as good for the care of older people as they received care that was safe and well-led.

Updated 27 March 2017

At our comprehensive inspection on 22 June 2016 we found that the practice offered a good service to patients of a working age and ensured the needs of the working age population, those recently retired and students had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care.

However, breaches of legal requirements were identified and improvements needed to be made to ensure the practice provided safe services and was well-led. During our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 we found the practice had taken action to improve. Consequently the practice is rated as good for the care of working age people as they received care that was safe and well-led.

Updated 27 March 2017

At our comprehensive inspection on 22 June 2016 we found that the practice had systems in place to ensure good care for those patients experiencing poor mental health including those patients with dementia.

However, breaches of legal requirements were identified and improvements needed to be made to ensure the practice provided safe services and was well-led. During our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 we found the practice had taken action to improve. Consequently the practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health as they received care that was safe and well-led.

Updated 27 March 2017

At our comprehensive inspection on 22 June 2016 we found that the practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with a learning disability. The practice informed vulnerable patients about how to access support groups and voluntary organisations and staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children.

However, breaches of legal requirements were identified and improvements needed to be made to ensure the practice provided safe services and was well-led. During our focused inspection on 1 March 2017 we found the practice had taken action to improve. Consequently the practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable as they received care that was safe and well-led.