Background to this inspection
Updated
19 May 2017
Drs Swoffer and Hoshyar, also known as Oak Hall Surgery, provides primary care services for New Romney, Kent and the surrounding area.
Most patient areas are accessible to patients with mobility issues, as well as parents with children and babies. Where areas are not accessible, staff make arrangements to ensure that patients can receive care in accessible areas.
The practice staff consists of four GPs (3.29 whole time equivalents (WTE)), two of whom are partners, a nurse practitioner (0.65 WTE) three nurses (1.59 WTE) and two healthcare assistants (0.96 WTE) as well as reception and administrative staff. There is a full time practice manager. One of the GPs is female and three are male. All of the nurses and healthcare assistants are female.
The practice 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 approximately 5,775. The proportion of patients over 50 is higher than the national average, and the proportion of patients aged under 50 is lower than the national average. The practice is in an area with a slightly lower than average deprivation score and lower than average levels of unemployment.
The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Appointments are from 8.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 6.30pm daily. Extended surgery hours are offered 6.30pm to 8pm on Tuesdaysand Wednesdays. There are arrangements with other providers (Invicta Health) to deliver services to patients outside of the practice’s working hours.
Services are provided from Oak Hall Surgery, 41-43 High Street, New Romney, Kent, TN28 8BW.
Updated
19 May 2017
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Drs Swoffer and Hoshyar on 16 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Drs Swoffer and Hoshyar on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 27 March 2017 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 16 June 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.
Overall the practice is now rated as good.
Our key findings were as follows:
- The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety, including those relating to legionella infection.
- The practice carried out appropriate recruitment checks, and staff received mandatory training appropriate to their roles.
- Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance.
- An overarching governance framework, including regular audit, supported the delivery of the strategy and good quality care. Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework showed that outcomes for patients with diabetes had improved and were now in line with local and national averages.
- There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice had a robust business plan and had recruited staff to meet the needs of its patient population.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice
People with long term conditions
Updated
19 May 2017
The provider had resolved the concerns for safety and well-led identified at our inspection on 16 June 2016 which applied to everyone using this practice, including this population group. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this.
At our previous inspection on 16 June 2016, we found that the practice’s performance in relation to outcomes of patients with diabetes was lower than local and national averages because the practice had not replaced staff with expertise in diabetes management who had left the practice.
When we undertook a follow up inspection of the service on 27 March 2017, we found that outcomes for these patients had significantly improved. For example:
- The percentage of patients with diabetes whose last blood pressure reading was 140/80 mmHg or less was 75% compared to the clinical commissioning group (CCG) average of 80% and the national average of 78%.
- The percentage of patients with diabetes whose last cholesterol measure was 5 mmol/l or less was 85% compared to the CCG average of 82% and the national average of 80%.
Families, children and young people
Updated
19 May 2017
The provider had resolved the concerns for safety and well-led identified at our inspection on 16 June 2016 which applied to everyone using this practice, including this population group. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this.
Updated
19 May 2017
The provider had resolved the concerns for safety and well-led identified at our inspection on 16 June 2016 which applied to everyone using this practice, including this population group. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this.
Working age people (including those recently retired and students)
Updated
19 May 2017
The provider had resolved the concerns for safety and well-led identified at our inspection on 16 June 2016 which applied to everyone using this practice, including this population group. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this.
People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia)
Updated
19 May 2017
The provider had resolved the concerns for safety and well-led identified at our inspection on 16 June 2016 which applied to everyone using this practice, including this population group. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this.
People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable
Updated
19 May 2017
The provider had resolved the concerns for safety and well-led identified at our inspection on 16 June 2016 which applied to everyone using this practice, including this population group. The population group ratings have been updated to reflect this.