Featherstone Medical Centre

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice provides primary medical services to approximately 1900 patients in the local community.

Both partners are male and one of the three regular locums is a female GP. Two practice nurses and a health care assistant are employed. The practice manager is supported by four receptionist staff who worked varying hours.

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 (with the exception of those aged 75 years or more) but the practice will focus on delivery of quality clinical care and well managed services.

The practice offers a range of clinics and services including, asthma, child health and development, contraception, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and minor surgery.

The practice opening times are Monday from 8.30am until 7pm, Tuesday and Friday from 8.30am until 6.30pm and until 1.30pm each Wednesday and Thursday.

The out-of-hours services were provided by South Doc and Primecare on behalf of the practice.

Updated 13 August 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Featherstone Medical Practice on 12 May 2015. The overall rating for the practice is good. We found the practice to be good in the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led domains. The practice is rated good for the 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 were as follows:

• Systems were in place to ensure that all staff had access to relevant national patient safety alerts. Infection prevention and control systems were managed and staff had received appropriate training.

• Staff received support, appraisals and role specific training to ensure they carried out their roles effectively. GPs carried out clinical audits to check that patients received appropriate care and treatment.

• Staff were friendly, caring and respected patient confidentiality. Patients we spoke with said that all staff were compassionate, listened to what they had to say and treated them with respect. Patients told us they were satisfied with the care they received. Staff worked together as a team to ensure they provided safe, co-ordinated patient care.

• There was a register of all vulnerable patients who were reviewed regularly. Patients who had long term conditions were regularly reviewed. GPs carried out clinical audits and made changes to patients care and treatments to ensure best practice. Information and feedback from patients was used to develop good systems of care.

• The practice had a clear vision to deliver high quality care and promote good outcomes for patients. This was evident when speaking with staff and patients during our inspection. There was a clear leadership structure with named staff in lead roles.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people with long term conditions. Practice staff supported patients to receive co-ordinated, multidisciplinary care whilst retaining an oversight of their care. Patients with long term conditions were regularly reviewed and any changes in their care needs were cascaded to other involved professionals to ensure integrated care was provided at all times. Staff kept a register of patients with long term conditions and those who had carers so that they could be offered support. When needed, longer appointments and home visits were available.

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of families, children and young people. Practice staff worked with health visitors and community midwives who provided ante-natal clinics at a nearby practice. There was a safeguarding policy in place for children and adults that included principles and definitions of the different types of safeguarding concerns. The GP who was the lead for safeguarding had received appropriate training. Clinical sessions included outside of school hours for children to attend the practice. The childhood vaccination programme was encouraged and undertaken by practice staff.

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for care of older people. Patients over 75 years old had a named GP to help co-ordinate their care. Patients over the age of 75 years were offered health checks. There were arrangements to review patients in their own home if they were unable to attend the practice. Care plans were in place for patients who were at risk or had complex health needs to monitor and review their health needs. Patients with complex care needs and at high risk of admission had been identified so that they could be appropriately supported to live at home and avoid admission to hospital. The practice worked with the palliative care team through monthly meetings to provide support to patients receiving end of life care.

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of working-age people (including those recently retired and students). There were extended evening hours each Monday until 7pm. The practice was proactive in offering on-line services for making appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions. Patients were offered a ‘choose and book’ service when they were referred to hospital outpatient services. This system gave them greater flexibility about when and where they were referred to. The practice carried out NHS health checks for patients between the ages of 40 and 74.

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). Care was tailored to patients’ individual needs and circumstances, including their physical health needs. Annual health checks were offered to patients with serious mental health illnesses. GPs had the necessary skills and information to assess and treat or refer patients with poor mental health. Practice staff had recognised the need and provided health checks and support for patients who had dementia.

Updated 13 August 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. Practice staff discussed patients in vulnerable circumstances at joint meetings with relevant health and social care professionals to ensure they received appropriate care and support. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with a learning disability and carried out regular health checks to ensure their needs were being met. There was a register of carers who cared for vulnerable patients to provide them with support. A GP explained how they sign posted carers to support agencies.