North Road West Medical Centre

Updated 9 January 2019

The North Road West Surgery is an inner-city training practice that provides primary medical services to 8,345 people living in the centre of Plymouth. The practice population is in the second deprivation decile in a score of one to ten the lower the decile the more deprived an area is. The practice population is typical of populations living within inner city areas suffering from significant deprivation. Their associated lifestyles and effect of austerity accentuated the challenges faced by the practice. A higher number of patients than average have social difficulties including English not being their first language, lack of family networks and severe financial hardship.

Since our last inspection in August 2015 the practice has seen a period of severely depleted clinical team with the resignation of a partner, salaried GPs and some of the nursing team.

The partnership at the practice now comprises of two GPs partners (one male and one female). They are supported by four salaried GPs (one male and three female). The team are supported by a nurse practitioner, a paramedic, three practice nurses, two health care professionals, a practice manager, financial manager, operations manager, IT manager and additional administrative and reception staff.

North Road West Medical Centre is an approved training practice for first, second and third year medical students. At the time of the inspection two of the GPs were undertaking training to provide vocational training for GP trainees.

Patients using the practice also have access to counsellors, community nurses, mental health teams and health visitors.

The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday with appointments available between 8.30am and 6pm. Outside of these times patients are directed to contact the out of hour's service by using the NHS 111 number.

The North Road West Medical practice provides the following regulated activities from 167 North Road West, Plymouth, Devon PL1 5BZ:

The practice provides the following regulated activities; Treatment of disease, disorder or injury; Diagnostic and screening procedures and Maternity and midwifery services

Updated 9 January 2019

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating August 2015– Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? –Requires Improvement

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at North Road West Medical Practice on 21 November 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

We saw one area of outstanding practice:

• The practice staff were actively involved in the Plymouth International GP recruitment project attending conferences to promote services within Plymouth and offered an overseas GP a placement for January.

Areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• The provider should continue to review and monitor QOF performance to ensure patient outcomes remain effective.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Updated 9 January 2019

Updated 9 January 2019

Updated 9 January 2019

Updated 9 January 2019

Updated 9 January 2019

Updated 9 January 2019