Archived: Dr SN Ramamoorthy's Practice Also known as Bigham Road Medical Centre

Updated 1 June 2017

Dr SN Ramamoorthy's Practice (also known as Bigham Road Medical Centre) is responsible for providing primary care services to approximately 3,025 patients. The practice is based close to the city centre of Liverpool. The practice serves a diverse patient population with an estimated 12% of patients who do not speak English as a first language. The patient population is younger than the city average with a significant number of children aged 0-4 years. The area in which the practice Is based is the 5th most deprived area in the city of Liverpool with high levels of deprivation, unemployment, housing problems and higher numbers of older people living in social isolation.

The staff team includes two partner GPs, two long standing GP Locums, one nurse practitioner, practice manager and administration and reception staff.

The practice is open 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Bookable appointments are available daily. Home visits and telephone consultations were available for patients who required them, including housebound patients and older patients. There are also arrangements to ensure patients received urgent medical assistance out of hours when the practice is closed.

The practice has a General Medical Service (GMS) contract. The practice offers a range of enhanced services such as flu and shingles vaccinations, minor surgery and timely diagnosis of dementia.

Updated 1 June 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr SN Ramamoorthy's Practice

on 19 May 2016. While the overall rating for the practice was good, the practice was rated as requires improvement for Safety. The full comprehensive report on the 19 May 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr SN Ramamoorthy's Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused desk top review carried out on 9 May 2017. The inspection was carried out to check that the provider had met the legal requirements we set out following the May 2016 visit.

This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had addressed all of the issues identified during the previous inspection.

• The practice had completed a fire risk assessment for the premises.

• An electrical safety test was completed by the practice.

• New systems were in place to show that all staff had the appropriate checks undertaken, for example through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, (DBS checks identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable).
• The practice had oxygen equipment on site for use in an emergency situation.

As a result of the actions taken the practice is now rated as ‘good’ for providing a safe service.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 22 July 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions. The practice held information about the prevalence of specific long term conditions within its patient population such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardio vascular disease and hypertension. This information was reflected in the services provided, for example, reviews of conditions and treatment, screening programmes and vaccination programmes. The practice had a system in place to make sure no patient missed their regular reviews for long term conditions. Diabetic dietetic and chronic disease lifestyle advice was provided to patients alongside individual care plans. The clinical staff took the lead for different long term conditions and kept up to date in their specialist areas. The practice had multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss the needs of palliative care patients and patients with complex needs. The practice worked with other agencies and health providers to provide support and access specialist help when needed. The practice referred patients who were over 18 and with long term health conditions to a well-being co-ordinator for support with social issues that were having a detrimental impact upon their lives.

Updated 22 July 2016

The practice is rated as good for the 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, for example, children and young people who had a high number of A&E attendances. Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations. Patients told us that children and young people were treated in an age-appropriate way and were recognised as individuals, and we saw evidence to confirm this. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies. We saw positive examples of joint working with midwives, health visitors and school nurses.

Updated 22 July 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. The practice was knowledgeable about the number and health needs of older patients using the service. They kept up to date registers of patients’ health conditions and used this information to plan reviews of health care and to offer services such as vaccinations for flu and shingles. The practice worked with other agencies and health providers to provide support and access specialist help when needed. Multi-disciplinary meetings were held to discuss and plan care of frail and elderly patients. The practice was working with neighbourhood practices and the CCG to provide services to meet the needs of older people.

Updated 22 July 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students). 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. The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs of this age group. Patients could book appointments on-line or via the telephone and repeat prescriptions could be ordered on-line which provided flexibility to working patients and those in full time education. The practice offered health checks to patients aged 40 – 74 which helped identify potential health risks. Sexual health, family planning and minor injuries services were provided.

Updated 22 July 2016

The practice is rated good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). GPs worked with specialist services to review care and to ensure patients received the support they needed. The practice maintained a register of patients who experienced poor mental health. The register supported clinical staff to offer patients experiencing poor mental health, including dementia, an annual health check and a medication review. The practice referred patients to appropriate services such as psychiatry and counselling services. The practice had information in the waiting areas about services available for patients with poor mental health. For example, services for patients who may experience depression. Clinical and non-clinical staff had undertaken training in dementia to ensure all were able to appropriately support patients.

Updated 22 July 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including homeless people and those with a learning disability. The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability. The practice regularly worked with other health care professionals in the case management of vulnerable patients. The practice informed vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. Staff knew how 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 in normal working hours and out of hours.