Archived: The Lawns Surgery

Updated 8 August 2018

The Lawns Surgery provides general medical services to people living in Rustington, Littlehampton, East Preston and Angmering. At the time of our inspection there were approximately 2,600 patients registered at the practice.

The practice population has a significantly higher than average number of patients between 60 and 85 years of age than the national and local clinical commissioning group (CCG) average. It also has a higher than average number of patients with a long standing health condition. Income deprivation for both children and older people is slightly higher than the CCG average but lower than the national average.

The service is provided by a sole GP provider Dr Charles Schlosberg who employs a part-time female GP, a practice nurse, a phlebotomist, a practice manager, an assistant practice manager and a small team of administrative and reception staff. For information about practice services, opening times and appointments please visit their website at https://www.thelawnssurgery.co.uk

The service is located at:-

The Primary Centre,

Zachary Merton Hospital,

Glenville Road,

Rustington,

Littlehampton, West SussexBN16 2EA

Updated 8 August 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection April 2018 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Outstanding

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at the Lawns Surgery on 27 April 2018 as part of our planned inspection programme.

At this inspection we found:

• 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 it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• There was a strong ethos of providing a dedicated, personalised and individual service to patients.
• The GPs personally telephoned patients with blood tests results and contacted patients to checks on their well-being during the day and after hours.
• Patient feedback received during the inspection was overwhelmingly positive.
• National GP patient survey results for the practice were amongst the highest nationally and locally.
• We observed that staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• Despite the limitations of its small and outdated premises the practice staff worked well to provide a good service to patients.

We saw an area of outstanding practice :-

• We received 40 CQC comments cards asking patients what they thought about the practice. Feedback from patients was overwhelmingly and consistently positive about the way staff treated them. The GPs were described as caring, compassionate, thorough and dedicated and there was a high level of personal praise for the dedication and individualised care provided to patients by the principal GP. The service was described as “incredible”, “exceptional” and “exemplary”. It was clear that they thought staff at the practice ‘went the extra mile’ and the care they received exceeded expectations. The GPs took blood from patients during consultations when required and personally contacted them with the results even if this meant phoning out of usual working hours and at weekends. Feedback from patients showed how much they valued the personalised care and attention they received in this respect.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 8 August 2018

Updated 8 August 2018

Updated 8 August 2018

Updated 8 August 2018

Updated 8 August 2018

Updated 8 August 2018