Archived: Werneth Medical Practice

Updated 18 April 2018

Werneth Medical Practice is located in a converted house in a residential area of Oldham. There is a small car park at the front of the practice and there is also street parking.

The practice is run by an individual male GP, and there are also two female long term locum GPs. They are supported by a practice nurse, a locum advanced nurse practitioner, a healthcare assistant, and administrative and reception staff. The practice manager has recently left and a new manager was starting work the week following our inspection.

The practice is open from 8am until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 8am until 6.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. GP surgery times are between 9.45am and 12 noon and 2.30pm and 4.30pm. Later practice nurse, advanced nurse practitioner and healthcare assistant appointments are available daily.

The practice has 3060 patients. It has a General Medical Services (GMS) contract and is a member of NHS Oldham clinical commissioning group (CCG).

The practice has an above average number of young patients, particularly in the 0 to 14 and 25 to 34 age range. It has a below average number of patients over the age of 44, and a low number of patients over the age of 65.

Approximately 93% of patients are black and minority ethnic (BME), mainly from a Pakistani or Bangladeshi background.

Life expectancy is 75 for males (below the national average of 79) and 79 for females (below the national average of 83). There are an above average number of patients with a long term condition.

The practice has opted out of providing out-of-hours services to their patients. This service is provided by a registered out of hours provider, Go to Doc Ltd, via NHS 111.

Updated 18 April 2018

We first carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Werneth Medical Practice on 13 October 2017. Overall the practice was rated as good. The domain of safe was rated as requires improvement as improvements were required regarding safe care and treatment. The previous inspection report can be found by accessing the ‘all reports’ link for Werneth Medical Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 27 March 2018. This inspection was to check the areas where the provider must or should make improvements had been actioned. At this inspection we found:

• All the required safety checks were being carried out and comprehensive safety assessments were in place.

• Recruitment processes had been strengthened so all relevant information was available.

• Oxygen masks for children had been purchased.

• Plans were in place to formalise an action plan following the GP patient surveys.

• The cleaning schedule had been updated.

• The practice had taken steps to identify more patients who were carers.

The practice is now rated good in the safe domain.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 28 November 2017

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions.

• Nursing staff had lead roles in long-term disease management and patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority.

• Performance for diabetes related indicators was 100%. This was above the CCG average of 88% and the national average of 91%.

• The practice followed up on patients with long-term conditions discharged from hospital and ensured that their care plans were updated to reflect any additional needs.

• There were emergency processes for patients with long-term conditions who experienced a sudden deterioration in health.

• All these patients had a named GP and there was a system to recall patients for a structured annual review to check their health and medicines needs were being met. For those patients with the most complex needs, the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 28 November 2017

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

• From the sample of documented examples we reviewed we found there were systems to identify and follow up children living in disadvantaged circumstances and who were at risk, for example, children and young people who had a high number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances.

• Staff told us, on the day of inspection, that children and young people were treated in an age-appropriate way and were recognised as individuals.

• Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies.

• The practice worked with midwives, health visitors and school nurses to support this population group. This included the provision of ante-natal, post-natal and child health surveillance clinics.

• The practice had emergency processes for acutely ill children and young people and for acute pregnancy complications.

Updated 28 November 2017

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

• Staff were able to recognise the signs of abuse in older patients and knew how to escalate any concerns.

• The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older patients in its population.

• The practice was responsive to the needs of older patients, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.

• The practice identified at an early stage older patients who may need palliative care as they were approaching the end of life. It involved older patients in planning and making decisions about their care, including their end of life care.

• The practice followed up on older patients discharged from hospital and ensured that their care plans were updated to reflect any extra needs.

• Older patients were provided with health promotional advice and support to help them to maintain their health and independence for as long as possible.

Updated 28 November 2017

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

• The needs of these populations had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care. For example there were extended opening hours and seven day access at a nearby practice.

• The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflects the needs for this age group.

Updated 28 November 2017

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

• The practice carried out advance care planning for patients living with dementia.

• Performance for mental health related indicators was 100%. This was above the CCG average of 92% and the national average of 94%.

• The practice specifically considered the physical health needs of patients with poor mental health and dementia.

• The practice had a system for monitoring repeat prescribing for patients receiving medicines for mental health needs.

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients experiencing poor mental health, including those living with dementia.

• Patients at risk of dementia were identified and offered an assessment.

• The practice had information available for patients experiencing poor mental health about how they could access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• Staff interviewed had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 28 November 2017

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

• The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with a learning disability.

• End of life care was delivered in a coordinated way which took into account the needs of those whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability.

• The practice regularly worked with other health care professionals in the case management of vulnerable patients.

• The practice had information available for vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• Staff interviewed knew how to recognise signs of abuse in children, young people and adults whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. They were aware of their responsibilities regarding information sharing, documentation of safeguarding concerns and how to contact relevant agencies in normal working hours and out of hours.