Well Close Medical Group

Updated 25 May 2018

Well Close Medical Group provides care and treatment to around 9,100 patients in Berwick, North Northumberland. The practice is part of Northumberland clinical commissioning group (CCG) and operates on a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract agreement for general practice.

The practice provides services from the following address, which we visited during this inspection:

• Well Close Square, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1LL

The surgery is located in a purpose built two storey building. Patient facilities are on the ground and first floor. There is no lift to the first floor; however, there are consultation rooms on the ground floor which are suitable for patients with mobility problems. There is on-street parking, accessible parking, an accessible WC, wheelchair and step-free access.

Patients can book appointments in person, on-line or by telephone.

Opening hours are as follows:

• Monday and Wednesday 8am to 8pm
• Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am to 6.30pm
• Saturday 8am to 12pm

Appointments with GPs are available at the following times:

• Monday and Wednesday - 8.30am to 12.20pm; 1.30pm to 5.20pm; then from 6.30pm to 8pm.
• Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 8.30am to 12.20pm; then from 1.30pm to 5.20pm
• Saturday – 8am to 12pm

The practice is part of a local hub which provides extended opening hours for patients; appointments are available Monday to Friday between 6.30pm and 8pm and on Saturday mornings between 8am and 12pm.

The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out of hours is provided by the NHS 111 service and Vocare, which is also known locally as Northern Doctors Urgent Care.

The practice has:

• two GP partners (both male),
• a managing partner,
• five salaried GPs (three female and two male),
• two nurse practitioner and five practice nurses (all female),
• a healthcare assistant,
• a medicines manager,
• a phlebotomist, and
• 16 staff who carry out reception and administrative duties.

The practice is a training practice and one of the GPs is an accredited GP trainer. At the time of the inspection no trainee GPs were working at the practice.

The age profile of the practice population is in line with the local and national averages, but is made up of a higher than average proportion of patients over the age 65 (26% compared to the national average of 17%). Information taken from Public Health England placed the area in which the practice is located in the fifth less deprived decile. In general, people living in more deprived areas tend to have greater need for health services.

Updated 25 May 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection October 2014 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Well Close Medical Group on 12 April 2018 as part our inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had systems to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
• The practice had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care they provided. They ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. They took account of patient needs and preferences.
• Patients were able to access care and treatment from the practice within an acceptable timescale for their needs.
• There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation. The practice proactively used performance information to drive improvement.

The areas where the provider should make improvements is:

• Put in place a formal system to be able to demonstrate when patient safety alerts have been read and actioned by staff.
• Provide the appropriate level of childrens’ safeguarding training for GPs.
• Take steps to ensure service users are treated with dignity and respect.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 25 May 2018

Updated 25 May 2018

Updated 25 May 2018

Updated 25 May 2018

Updated 25 May 2018

Updated 25 May 2018