Weald View Medical Practice - Hawkhurst

Updated 29 January 2018

North Ridge Medical Practice is situated in Hawkhurst, Kent. The practice is aligned to the NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and has a general medical services contract with NHS England for delivering primary care services to the local community.

The practice has a patient population of 5,501. The proportion of patients who are aged 0 to 10 years, and 20 to 45 years is lower than the national average and the proportion of female patients aged 10 to 19 years is significantly higher than the national average. This is because the practice is the registered practice for the population of a local girls’ boarding school. The practice is in an area with a lower than average deprivation score, and lower than average levels of unemployment.

The practice is located in a listed building in the High Street. There is limited patient parking available at the practice, although there are public car parks nearby.

There are three GP partners, two male and one female. These GPs are supported by a regular locum GP (female) who is directly employed by the practice. There is one advanced nurse practitioner, two practice nurses and two health care assistants (all female). In addition, there is a business manager and a practice manager as well as a team of reception and administrative staff.

The practice is a dispensing practice and employs four dispensers. The practice dispenses to approximately 60% of the patients on its list.

The practice is not a teaching or training practice (teaching practices take medical students and training practices have GP trainees and doctors undertaking a two-year training programme following graduation from medical school).

The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Extended hours appointments are offered from 7.30am to 8am and 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday. The practice’s telephone lines are closed between 1pm and 1.30pm daily. Patients who need to contact the practice urgently during this time are given an alternative telephone number to call and speak with a member of staff.

Primary medical services are available to patients via an appointments system. There is a range of clinics for all age groups as well as the availability of specialist nursing treatment and support. There are arrangements with other providers (Integrated Care 24) to deliver services to patients outside of the practice’s working hours.

Services are provided from: North Ridge, Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent, TN18 4EX.

Updated 29 January 2018

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection July 2015 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection of this service under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

At this inspection we found:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system for reporting and recording significant events.
• The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to help minimise risks to patient safety.

• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• The practice monitored outcomes for patients via a programme of audits that were used to make improvements to patient care.
• Results from the national GP patient survey showed patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice facilities were limited by their listed building status but staff made adaptations and the practice was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on. There was an active and highly engaged patient participation group (PPG).
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour. Examples we reviewed showed the practice complied with these requirements.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

• Continue to work towards moving to new premises in order to address the current issues with suitability of buildings and access arrangements.
• Consider providing a hearing loop in the practice to assist patients with hearing impairment.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 29 January 2018

Updated 29 January 2018

Updated 29 January 2018

Updated 29 January 2018

Updated 29 January 2018

Updated 29 January 2018