We carried out a review of the data available to us about St James Surgery on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about St James Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at St James Surgery on 18 October 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
We saw one area of outstanding practice:
Chief Inspector of General Practice
St James is a GP practice providing primary care services to patients in Clacton. It provides primary care services from two sites, one at Wash Lane, Clacton, and a branch surgery at Church Square in St Osyth. We did not visit the branch surgery on this inspection.
All the patients we spoke with were complimentary about the service they had received. The results of the most recent patient survey carried out by the practice showed that patients were satisfied with the care and treatment they received.
We saw evidence that the practice responded promptly and effectively to incidents and complaints. The practice had learned from these events and made improvements.
Throughout the inspection we saw the leadership team was visible, and staff and patients found them approachable and supportive.
We saw that the practice had taken steps to ensure the service delivered was safe for patients as well as to the staff employed there. There were systems in place to ensure effective patient care and we heard about a high level of patient satisfaction with the care and treatment provided.
Patients were treated with dignity and respect in a well maintained environment which was accessible and had features that ensured patients’ privacy. The appointment system enabled patients to be seen quickly for the amount of time their needs required. The practice was responsive to the needs of patients and continuously strived to improve the service it provided through active engagement with the patient group. The practice was well led by the practice manager supported with a deputy and the partner GPs. They were supported by an engaged practice nursing and staff team.
Patients over the age of 75 were allocated a dedicated GP to oversee their individual care and treatment requirements delivered in the practice or in the patient’s own home.
Mothers, babies, children and young patients had access to specialised staff as well as dedicated clinics and health promotion materials.
The practice have made provision for the working-age population and those recently retired with some evening and early morning appointments as well as telephone consultations.
Patients not registered with St James surgery could access services there. Patients in vulnerable circumstances who may have poor access to primary care were also provided with services by the practice.
Patients experiencing poor mental health had access to psychiatric care and local counselling. Once diagnosed with poor mental health patients were monitored and offered six-monthly check-ups.