Waterfield House Practice

Background to this inspection

Updated 3 May 2017

Waterfield House Practice is a GP practice based in Pembury, Kent. There are 5,957 patients on the practice list.

The practice is in one of the least deprived areas of Kent. The practice is similar to the national averages for each population group. For example, 4.5% of patients are aged 0 - 4 years of age compared to the clinical commissioning group (CCG) average of 6% and the national average of 5.9% and 30% are 5 to 18 years of age compared to the CCG average of 34% and the national average of 32%. Scores were similar for patients aged 65, 75 and 85 years and over.

The practice provided care and treatment for 150 patients who lived in nursing and residential homes, who often had complex needs, dementia and were vulnerable. Additionally, the practice provided care and treatment for 43 patients who lived in a residential home for people with learning disabilities.

The practice holds a General Medical Service contract and consists of three partner GPs (male). The GPs are supported by a locum GP (female), a practice manager, three practice nurses (female) and an administrative team. A wide range of services and clinics are offered by the practice including asthma and diabetes.

The practice building is arranged over two storeys, with all the patient accessible areas being located on the ground floor. The practice is accessible to patients with mobility issues, as well as parents with children and babies.

Waterfield House Practice is open 8.30am 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday. Morning appointments are from 9am to 11.30am and afternoon appointments are from 4pm to 5.50pm. There is a late evening clinic every Monday 6pm to 7.30pm. The practice operates a duty doctor system to ensure there is GP cover from 1pm to 2pm and 6pm to 6.30pm and urgent and emergency cases, as well as test results being monitored and responded to appropriately.

The practice is a training practice (training practices have GP trainees and FY2 doctors). There is one GP registrar at the practice. Additionally, the practice nurses provide mentoring services and there is a third year nursing student working at the practice.

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:

Waterfield House Practice, 186 Henwood Green Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4LR

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 3 May 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Waterfield House Practice on 21 June 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good. The full comprehensive report on the June 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Waterfield House Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 29 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 21 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:

Since our inspection in June 2016 the practice had revised the processes for the prevention and control of infection, to include annual infection control audits.
The practice had reviewed the processes for assessing the risk of legionella, as well as the risks associated with fire safety.

Personnel files were up to date with copies of the routine checking of registration with the appropriate professional body for nurses.
Systems to routinely check the equipment and medicines used in emergencies had been implemented to ensure they were safe for use and fit for purpose.
Staff appraisals were being routinely conducted and recorded.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice