Archived: Oswald Medical Centre

Updated 8 December 2016

Oswald Medical Centre is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide primary medical services. The practice provides a comprehensive range of services including minor surgery to approximately 8700 patients from four sites:

• Main surgery: Oswald Medical Centre, 296 Union Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 3JD.

• Branch 1: Hyndburn Medical Practice, Acorn Primary Care Centre, 421 Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 1RT.

• Branch 2: Pritchard Street Surgery, 1A Pritchard Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3PF.

The practice also has a location registered at

• Myrtle House Surgery, 154 Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 0AE

The practice delivers services under a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract with NHS England, and is part of the NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The average life expectancy of the practice population is slightly below both CCG and national averages for males at 75 years compared to 77 years and 79 years respectively. Life expectancy for females is also slightly below the CCG and national averages at 80 years (CCG 81 years and national average 83 years). Age groups and population groups within the practice population are comparable with CCG and national averages.

Information published by Public Health England rates the level of deprivation within the practice population group as two on a scale of one to ten. Level one represents the highest levels of deprivation and level ten the lowest.

The practice is staffed by five GP partners (one female and four male). In addition there is also one salaried and one sessional GP. The practice is a training practice for trainee GPs and medical students. The GPs are supported by a nurse practitioner, two practice nurses, an assistant nurse practitioner and a healthcare assistant. Clinical staff are supported by a senior business manager, a practice manager and 14 administration and support staff.

The opening times for surgeries within the practice are as follows:

• Oswald Medical Centre – 8am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday

• Hyndburn Medical Practice – 8am – 6.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 8am – 8.45pm on Monday. There are extended hours each Monday evening until 8.30pm that all patients can access

• Pritchard Street Surgery – 8am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday

• Myrtle House Surgery - 8am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday

In addition to pre-bookable appointments that can be booked up to six weeks in advance, urgent appointments are also available for people that need them. When the practice is closed, Out of Hours services are provided by East Lancashire Medical Services and can be contacted by telephoning NHS 111.

The practice provides online patient access that allows patients to book appointments and order prescriptions.

Updated 8 December 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced follow up inspection Oswald Medical Practice on 10 November 2016.

Following a comprehensive inspection on 12 April 2016 the practice was issued with two requirement notices due to breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulation 2014. This was in relation to shortfalls in systems for risk management and health and safety and the management of medicines. The practice was rated as Requires Improvement. An action plan was submitted with agreed timescales, identifying the action the practice would take.

We undertook a focused inspection to follow up the action taken by the practice in these specific areas. We found the practice had completed the action plan and was now meeting the required regulations.

Overall the practice is now rated as Good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an improved system in place for reporting and recording significant events and there was evidence that learning was shared across the practice.

• Risks to patients were assessed and were effectively managed.

• The management of complaints had been reviewed. Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. All equipment was now serviced and maintained as required. Portable appliance testing had been completed.

• The management of medicines had been improved, with additional security measures implemented for the distribution and storage of prescriptions.

• The authorisations to administer medicines via patient group and patient specific directions had been reviewed. Systems had been implemented to better manage and to reduce risks

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 8 December 2016

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

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

• Performance for diabetes related indicators for 2015/16? was between 66.4% and 79%. This was lower than the national average range of 78% to 94% but had improved from 2014/15 .

• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.

• All these patients had a named GP and 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 8 December 2016

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

• There were systems in place 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 A&E attendances.

• Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations.

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

• We saw positive examples of joint working with midwives, health visitors and school nurses.

• Cervical screening uptake data from 2015/16 for women aged 25-64 years identified a test had been performed in the preceding five years for 84%of female patients, which was comparable to the national average of 82%

Updated 8 December 2016

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

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

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

• The practice employed the services of a community nurse and community health care assistant to monitor patients with complex needs and carry out annual reviews

Updated 8 December 2016

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

• The needs of the working age population, those recently retired and students had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care.

• 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.

• Extended hours had been implemented each Monday evening until 8.30pm at the Hyndburn branch, which all patients could access.

Updated 8 December 2016

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

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

• The practice effectively signposted patients to community and voluntary support services and had a range of health and well-being information available in the waiting area.

• The practice had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency where they may have been experiencing poor mental health.

• Staff had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia. Staff had received additional training and were Dementia Friends.

Updated 8 December 2016

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 homeless people, travellers and those with a learning disability.

• 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 informed vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children. Staff 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.

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