Background to this inspection
Updated
30 August 2021
Luson Surgery is located in Wellington, Somerset at:
41 Fore Street
Wellington
Somerset
TA21 8AG
The provider is registered with CQC to deliver the Regulated Activities; diagnostic and screening procedures, maternity and midwifery services and treatment of disease, disorder or injury and surgical procedures.
The practice is situated within the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and delivers General Medical Services (GMS) to a patient population of about 6,590. This is part of a contract held with NHS England.
The practice is part of a wider network of GP practices.
There is a team of thee GP partners (male and female) and one salaried GP. The GPs are supported by two nurse practitioners, two practice nurses, two clinical pharmacists and a healthcare assistant (all female). There is a practice manager and a team of reception/administrative staff. The practice also has two physiotherapy sessions and one midwifery session at the practice each week, provided by staff employed by the local Primary Care Network (PCN).
The practice age profile of patients is consistent with local and national profiles, with slightly higher proportion of patients over 65 years. Information published by Public Health England, rates the level of deprivation within the practice population group as seventh, on a scale of one to ten. Level one represents the highest levels of deprivation and level ten the lowest.
Information about opening times are displayed at the practice and on its website. Normal opening times are Monday to Friday 8.30am. Phone access is from 8am to 6.30pm each weekday.
Due to the enhanced infection prevention and control measures put in place since the pandemic and in line with the national guidance, most GP appointments were telephone consultations. If the GP needs to see a patient is offered a face-to-face appointment.
When the practice is closed patients can access an out of hours service via the NHS 111 service.
Updated
30 August 2021
We carried out an announced review at Luson Surgery on 22 June 2021. Overall, the practice is rated as good.
Following our previous inspection on 11 December 2019 the practice was rated Good overall and for all key questions, except for the effective key question and the long-term condition, working age people and people experiencing poor mental health population groups which were rated as requires improvement.
The full reports for previous inspections can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Luson Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we carried out this review
This was a follow up review of concerns identified in the 2019 inspection.
The focus of this review was:
- To review the services provided to people with long-term conditions and the outcomes for these patients using the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) performance.
- To review the services provided to Working age people (including those recently retired and students).
- To review the services provided to people experiencing poor mental health the outcomes for these patients using the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) performance.
How we carried out the review
Throughout the pandemic CQC has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our reviews differently.
This review was carried out off site. This was with consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.
Our approach included:
- Conducting staff interviews using tele-conferencing
- Reviewing performance data available at the time of our inspection.
Our findings
We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:
- what we found when we undertook the review
- information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
- information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.
We have rated this practice as Good overall and good for all of the population groups.
We found that:
- Patients with long-term conditions and people experiencing poor mental health had their needs assessed and their care and treatment was delivered in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance supported by clear pathways and tools.
- Throughout the pandemic, patients with long-term conditions were recalled as appropriate. Patients were proactively contacted using text messages and through personal contact from healthcare assistants and clinical staff. Patients were opportunistically contacted to carry out reviews.
- Childhood immunisation and cervical screening data was below expected national targets for some indicators but the practice had an action plan in place to target and work with individuals who declined these services to better understand the rationale of patient choice.
- Work had been undertaken to increase the completion of care reviews for those patients diagnosed with cancer.
- Face-to-face appointments were offered when clinically necessary.
- The practice worked in a multidisciplinary manner to ensure that patient needs were met. Staff worked proactively with the local Primary Care Network (PCN) to increase access to a range of services, including access to health coaches and mental health practitioners.
Whilst we found no breaches of regulations, the provider should:
- Continue to monitor and improve care for patients with diabetes and frailty.
- Continue to take action to increase the uptake of cervical screening.
- Continue to take action to increase the uptake of childhood immunisations.
Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.
Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care