Billericay Medical Practice

Updated 3 May 2018

Billericay Medical Practice is located in Billericay, Essex. It shares premises with other healthcare providers. The practice provides GP services to approximately 12,700 patients living in Billericay.

The practice is one of 44 practices commissioned by the Basildon and Brentwood Commissioning Group and it holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS. This contract outlines the core responsibilities of the practice in meeting the needs of its patients through the services it provides.

The practice population has a comparable number of children aged five to18 years compared to the England average, as well as patients aged over 65 years. Economic deprivation levels affecting children and older people are considerable lower than average as are unemployment levels. The life expectancy of male and female patients is higher than the local average by three years. The number of patients on the practice’s list that have long standing health conditions is comparable to average, as is the number of patients who are carers.

The practice is governed by a partnership that consists of six GPs, four male and two female.

The partnership is supported by a female salaried GP, four practice nurses, two nurse practitioners and two healthcare assistants. Billericay Medical Practice is a training practice and as such, there are also two GP registrars working at the practice. A GP registrar is a qualified doctor who is undergoing training to become a GP.

Administrative support consists of a full-time practice manager, a senior administrator and a number of reception and administrative staff.

The practice is open from 8am until 6.30pm on weekdays and is open from 8.15am until 11.30am on a Saturday morning. The practice is also a member of the local hub, which means that it works with other GPs in the locality to provide appointments outside of the usual opening hours. Routine appointments can be booked at the hub between 6.30pm and 8.00pm on a Monday to Friday and between 8am and 8.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Appointments at the hub are available with a GP, nurse or health care assistant.

Updated 3 May 2018

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Billericay Medical Practice on 26 September 2017. The overall rating for the practice was good, although we rated safe as requires improvement. At that inspection, we were inspecting to check that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to breaches identified at our earlier inspection of 11 July 2016. The full report on the September 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Billericay Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 16 April 2018 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 26 September 2017. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

Overall, the practice continues to be rated as good overall and safe is now rated as good.

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

• Clinicians were prescribing medicines in accordance with manufacturer and other guidelines.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 18 August 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions.

• Nursing staff had training and lead roles in chronic disease management.
• Therewere GPs at the surgery who had a special interest in diabetes and COPD, so that patients whose conditions were poorly controlled could have specialist GP oversight.
• Allpatients with diabetes had received a flu immunisation in the last year. This wasbetter thanthe localaverage of 92% and England average of 94%.
• The practice worked with a care-coordinator to share information and plan care for this population group.
• Not all patients on a particular medicine were being reviewed inaccordance with NICE guidance.

Updated 18 August 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people.

• Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations. For children under two, vaccination rates were between 95%-98%compared to the local average of between 94% and 98%.
• The midwife held weekly clinics at the practice. This promoted the ongoing sharing of information.
• Appointments were available outside ofschool hours and on a Saturday morning.
• Staff were aware of Gillick assessment when assessing the competency of children.
• There were appropriate child safeguarding procedures in place. Staff were aware of their responsibilities.

Updated 18 August 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people.

• Annual health checks were available to patients over 75.
• Joint injections were available for elderly patients living with osteoarthritis.
• Home visits and telephone consultations were available to patients who were unable to attend the practice.
• Patients on somehigh risk medicines were not being reviewed effectively prior to being issued with a repeat prescription to ensure that their medicines were being prescribed at a correct and safe dose.

Updated 18 August 2016

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

• The percentage of women aged 25-64 whose notes record that a cervical screening test had been performed in the preceding five years was comparable to other practices.
• Online consultations were available whereby patients could provide their symptoms on a web based form, which the GP would consider and then contact them by telephone.
• Patients indicated that they were satisfied with the practice's opening hours. Appointments could be made on a Saturday morning, outside of standard working hours. There was also a health hub where appointments could be accessed later in the evening and on a Saturday.
• Appointments could be made or cancelled in person, on-line or over the telephone. Repeat prescriptions could be obtained online.
• The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflects the needs for this age group.

Updated 18 August 2016

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

• Patients experiencing poor mental health could be referred to the counsellor who held a weekly clinic at the practice.
• Performance for mental health related indicators was better than the national average.97%patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had a comprehensive, agreed care plan in place. This was better the national average of 89%.
• Allpatients diagnosed with dementia who had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, which wasbetter thanthe national average of 87%.

Updated 18 August 2016

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

• There were appropriate adult safeguarding procedures in place. Staff were aware of their responsibilities.
• 23 out of 24 patients who had learning disabilities had received a health check. One has declined the invitation to do so.
• There was support available to patients who had a caring responsibility, including an annual health check. However, the amount of patients identified as cares was lower than anticipated.
• The practice worked with a care-coordinator to share information and plan care for this population group.