Archived: Dr Joseph L Practice

Updated 29 August 2018

Dr Joseph L Practice is situated in Grays opposite a college in a pedestrianised area. It has a level access entrance. There is a small car park situated at the back of the practice and it is located a short walk away from Grays railway station. The practice has a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with the NHS.

• There are approximately 2095 patients registered at the practice.
• The practice provides services from 78 High Street, Grays, Thurrock, Essex
• The practice is registered to provide the following regulated activities: treatment of disease, disorder or injury; family planning; surgical procedures; diagnostic and screening procedures and Maternity and midwifery services.
• There are two GPs, one female and one male, although there is only ever one GP on the premises. Occasionally a male GP locum carries out clinics on a Monday and Tuesday morning. There is one part-time female practice nurse and a number of other staff carrying out administrative duties.
• The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Tuesday to Friday and from 8am to 8pm on Mondays. Appointment time may vary depending on the day but appointments are generally from 9am to 11am and 4.20pm to 6pm Monday to Friday (except Thursday afternoon which is for emergencies only).
• Patients are able to book evening and weekend appointments at the local ‘Thurrok Health Hubs’ through the practice to see either a doctor or a nurse between 9.15am and 12.30pm, at one of four ‘hubs’.
• When the practice is closed patients are advised to call 111 if they require medical assistance and it cannot wait until the surgery reopens. The out of hour’s service is provided by IC24.
• National data indicates that people living in the area are fifth most deprived decile of the deprivation scoring in comparison to England.
• The practice provides services to a higher number of patients aged between 15 to 44 years.

Updated 29 August 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating July 2017 – Good overall with caring rated as requires improvement and requires improvement in effective for patients with long term conditions.

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services effective for patients with long term conditions? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

We carried out an announced focused inspection at Dr Joseph L Practice on 10 August 2018. This inspection was to follow up on breaches of regulation 17 found during our July 2017 inspection which we carried out as a desk based inspection. We reviewed the practice for providing effective services for patients with long term conditions and for providing caring services.

At this inspection we found:

• The percentage of carers had remained the same since the previous inspection. The practice had identified 18 patients as carers resulting in 0.8% of their practice list.
• Patient we spoke with on the day of the inspection were positive regarding the care and treatment they received from staff at the practice.
• National GP patient survey data published in July 2018 portrayed some positive variation in patient satisfaction compared with the July 2017 data.
• The practice had monitored their patient satisfaction throughout the year via internal surveys and found that patients were satisfied with the care and treatment. They had acted on any negative feedback they had received.
• Unverified QOF data for 2017/2018 showed the practice had improved on their clinical outcomes for patients with long term conditions.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Strengthen the process for the identification of carers.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Updated 29 August 2018

Updated 28 December 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people.

• There were systems and processes in place to enable staff to identify and take appropriate action to monitor and safeguard children and young people living in disadvantaged situations. For example, children with a large number of A&E attendances.
• Immunisation rates were in line with CCG and national averages for all standard childhood immunisations. For example, all eligible 12 month olds at the practice had received the vaccinations required at this age.
• Patients told us that children and young people were treated appropriately.
• Pre-bookable appointments were available at the GP ‘hub’ at the weekend. Weekday appointments were available at the end of school hours.

Updated 28 December 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people.

• All patients had a named GP.
• Home visits were available for house-bound patients.
• The practice was accessible for those with limited mobility.
• Flu vaccinations were available.
• Nurses liaised with district nursing regarding the care and best dressings for patients with leg ulcers and other conditions requiring regular dressing and review.

Updated 28 December 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students).

• Pre-bookable appointments were available at the GP ‘hub’ at the weekend.
• The percentage of women aged 25-64 who have had a cervical screening test in the past 5 years was 76% which was in line with the CCG and national average.
• The practice had available online access so that patients could book and cancel appointments, review their record summary and request repeat medicines.

Updated 28 December 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

• The percentage of patients diagnosed with dementia who had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, was 92% which was above the CCG and national average.
• Performance data for the number of patients with a mental health diagnosis with a blood pressure recorded in the last 12 months was higher than CCG and national average. Upon investigation by the practice this was found to be due to incorrect use of coding.
• The practice worked closely with mental health professionals to deliver coordinated care in the community.
• Longer appointments were available for patients experiencing poor mental health.

• The practice sign-posted patients to local voluntary support services.