Comberton Surgery Also known as Dr Parker & Partners

Updated 31 May 2018

Comberton Surgery is a well-established GP practice that has operated in the area for many years. It serves approximately 9,063 registered patients and has a general medical services contract with NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG. It is located in an affluent area of South Cambridgeshire. The service is delivered from two sites, the main surgery in the village of Comberton and a branch surgery in Eversden. A dispensary is attached to each site. The practice is able to offer dispensing services to those patients on the practice list who live more than one mile (1.6km) from their nearest pharmacy.

The practice is a teaching practice for medical students and qualified doctors who are training to be GPs. The practice is also a member of the Clinical Research Network supporting approved clinical research within NHS primary care.

The practice team consists of seven GPs, four male and three female. Five of the GPs are partners which means they hold managerial and financial responsibility for the practice. Of the remaining two, there is one salaried GP and one GP retainer (the GP Retainer Scheme enables GPs with other commitments to undertake a limited amount of general practice to maintain their skills until returning to more substantive general practice in the future. Retainees may work up to four sessions a week in an educationally approved retainer practice). There is a team of four practice nurses and one healthcare assistant. There is a dispensary manager and a team of dispensers. In addition to this there is a team of reception and administrative staff supported by a practice manager.

The branch at Comberton is open between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday; the branch at Eversden is open during these hours but closes on a Thursday afternoon from 12.30pm. In addition, the dispensary at Comberton is open from 8:30am to 10:30am on a Saturday for the collection of pre-ordered medicines.

According to information taken from Public Health England, the patient population for this service has a higher than average number of patients aged 45 to 79 years, and a lower than average number of patients aged 45 and below compared to the practice average across England. The practice area is one of the least deprived areas within England, according to information taken from Public Health England’s index of multiple deprivation score.

Updated 31 May 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. At the previous inspection in December 2015 the practice were rated as good overall.

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

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Comberton Surgery on 16 April 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.
• The practice’s performance in relation to the Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) results were 99%. This was above Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and national averages.
• The practice offered health checks for patients aged over 75 and patients with a learning disability, the practice acknowledged the uptake of these health checks could be improved.
• We saw evidence that learning points were discussed in management meetings and staff we spoke to were aware of these.
• There were comprehensive risk assessments in relation to building safety issues such as fire safety and health and safety.
• Cleaning staff had access to the dispensary out of hours when there were no dispensary staff present. The practice demonstrated the safety measures they had in place to mitigate any risks but had not undertaken a formal risk assessment.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Staff told us that they were happy to work at the practice and felt supported by the management team. Staff told us they were encouraged to raise concerns and share their views.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• Results from the July 2017 national GP patient survey were in line with and above local and national averages. Feedback from patients we spoke with and received comments from supported these findings. The practice had a patient participation group, however at the time of our inspection this group was not active.
• We saw evidence that written complaints were handled effectively, although verbal complaints were not always recorded and the opportunity to analyse trends was missed.
• There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation. The practice was a training practice for GP trainees and for medical and nursing students.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Review and improve the uptake of health checks including those for patients with a learning disability and those patients aged over 75.
• Review and improve the engagement of staff with the patient participation group.
• Review and improve the documentation of verbal complaints.
• Formalise the risk assessment for external staff accessing the dispensary out of hours.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 31 May 2018

Updated 31 May 2018

Updated 31 May 2018

Updated 31 May 2018

Updated 31 May 2018

Updated 31 May 2018