Dr Anuj Handa Also known as Dr Handa

Updated 27 May 2016

The Dr Anuj Handa practice is also known as Fartown Surgery and is a member of Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It is located within a suburb, with elements of high deprivation, on the outskirts of North Huddersfield. The premises were purpose built and have car parking facilities and disabled access.

The practice has a patient list size of 3,404, a high proportion of which are of Asian origin. They have a higher than local CCG and national average of patients who have a long standing health condition; 71% compared to 55% and 54% respectively. The unemployed working status is also higher at 16%, compared to 7% locally and 5% nationally.

There are two male GPs, who are father and son, and one female practice nurse. The clinicians are supported by a practice manager and a team of administration and reception staff.

The practice is open between 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, with extended hours from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Monday. Telephone consultations are sometimes held by clinicians, dependent on the need of the patient. When the practice is closed out-of-hours services are provided by Local Care Direct, which can be accessed via the surgery telephone number or by calling the NHS 111 service.

General Medical Services (GMS) are provided under a contract with NHS England. The practice is registered to provide the following regulated activities; maternity and midwifery services, family planning, diagnostic and screening procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury. They also offer a range of enhanced services such as influenza, pneumococcal and childhood immunisations.

The practice has good working relationships with local health, social and third sector services to support provision of care for its patients. (The third sector includes a very diverse range of organisations including voluntary, community, tenants’ and residents’ groups.)

Updated 27 May 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Anuj Handa's practice on 3 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Patients’ comments we received were extremely positive about the practice and identified how caring the staff were.
• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment, there was continuity of care and urgent appointments were available on the same day as requested.
• Patients told us they were seen within 48 hours, irrespective of need.
• Longer appointments were given to those patients who needed them.
• Information regarding the services provided by the practice was readily available for patients.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat and meet the needs of patients.
• There was a complaints policy and clear information available for patients who wished to make a complaint.
• The practice sought patient views how improvements could be made to the service, through the use of patient surveys, the NHS Friends and Family Test and the patient participation group.
• The needs of patients were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. There were good governance arrangements and appropriate policies in place.
• The practice was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour. (The duty of candour is a set of specific legal requirements that providers of services must follow when things go wrong with the care and treatment of patients.)
• There was a culture of openness and honesty, which was reflected in the approach to safety. All staff were encouraged and supported to record any incidents using the electronic reporting system. There was evidence of good investigation, learning and sharing mechanisms in place.
• There was a clear leadership structure, staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities and told us the GPs were accessible and supportive

However, we saw an area where the provider should make improvements:

• Ensure the cleaning and refurbishment up of the old ‘minor surgery’ room is carried out before usage (this was an unused room in the practice).

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 27 May 2016

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

• All these patients had a named GP and a structured annual review to check that their health and medicines needs were being met. 
• Patients who were identified most at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority.

• 100% of newly diagnosed diabetic patients had been referred to a structured education programme in the last 12 months, compared to 90% locally and nationally.
• 93% of patients diagnosed with asthma had received a review in the last 12 months, compared to 78% locally and 75% nationally.
• 96% of patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had received a review in the last 12 months, compared to 92% locally and 90% nationally.
• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.
• Health trainers supported people with long term conditions; particularly regarding managing lifestyle, stress or anxiety related issues.
• The practice had diabetic diet leaflets which identified Asian food groups, to support those patients in making the right dietary choices.

Updated 27 May 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 accident and emergency (A&E) attendances.
• Patients and staff told us 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. All children who required an urgent appointment were seen on the same day as requested.

• The practice worked with midwives, health visitors and school nurses to support the needs of this population group. For example, in the provision of ante-natal, post-natal and child health surveillance clinics.
• Immunisation uptake rates were high for all standard childhood immunisations, with an achievement of 100% for many vaccinations.
• Sexual health, contraceptive and cervical screening services were provided at the practice.
• 90% of eligible patients had received cervical screening, compared to 86% locally and 82% nationally.

Updated 27 May 2016

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

• The practice provided proactive, responsive and person-centred care to meet the needs of the older people in its population. Home visits and urgent appointments were available for those patients in need.
• The practice worked closely with other health and social care professionals, such as the district nursing team, to ensure housebound patients received the care and support they needed.
• Care plans were in place for those patients who were considered to have a high risk of an unplanned hospital admission.

• Patients who were lonely or isolated were signposted to other services, such as the health trainers.

Updated 27 May 2016

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

• The needs of these patients had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care.

• Telephone consultations were available as needed.
• The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflected the needs for this age group.
• Health checks were offered to patients aged between 40 and 74 who had not seen a GP in the last three years.
• NHS vaccinations were available for students as part of the government immunisation programme.

Updated 27 May 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 multidisciplinary teams in the case management of people in this population group, for example the local mental health team. Patients and/or their carers were given information on how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.
• 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.
• The practice was working towards becoming dementia friendly. Staff had received training and had a good understanding of how to support patients with dementia or mental health needs.
• Advance care planning was undertaken with patients who had dementia, 100% of whom had received a face to face review of their care in the last 12 months, which was higher than the local and national averages.
• 96% of patients who had a complex mental health problem, such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had received an annual review in the past 12 months and had a comprehensive, agreed care plan documented in their record. This was higher than the local and national averages (local 90%, nationally 88%).
• The practice identified patients who were carers and offered support and signposted to other services as needed.

Updated 27 May 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 and regularly worked with multidisciplinary teams in the case management of this population group.
• Staff 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.
• The practice could evidence children who were on a child protection plan (this is a plan which identifies how health and social care professionals will help to keep a child safe).
• Information on how to access various local support groups and voluntary organisations was available and patients were signposted to these services as needed.
• Longer appointments were available for patients as needed.