High Street Surgery

Background to this inspection

Updated 24 March 2017

High Street Surgery is located in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering. It is located in a town centre location which is well served by public transport. The practice is situated in a converted semi-detached property, surrounded by residential houses. Parking is available on surrounding streets with a disabled parking bay on the forecourt of the building. All patient areas are accessible to wheelchair users.

The practice serves a predominantly White, British population (82%). A further 7% of the local population identifies itself as Asian / Asian British and 3% as Black / African / Caribbean / Black British. The practice is located in the third less deprived decile of areas in England. At 78 years, male life expectancy is less than the England average of 79 years. At 84 years, female life expectancy is greater than the England average of 83 years.

The practice has been operating from its current location since May 2015. It has approximately 3298 registered patients. The practice is managed by a single GP (male). There is a practice nurse (female), a practice manager and four reception/administrative staff. When the use of a locum was necessary, the same one is used for continuity. The GP is responsible for the day to day operations of the practice with the support of a practice manager.

The practice opens at 8.30am every week day and closes at 6.30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Surgery times are from 8.30am to 12.30pm and then from 4pm until closing. This represents 10 GP sessions per week. Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm. The practice does not open on weekends. Outside of these hours out of hours care is provided by a hub of local GPs. The service operated from 6.30pm to 10pm on weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and 9am to 1pm on Sundays. Outside of those hours emergency cover was provided by the NHS 111 service.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission to carry on the following regulated activities: Diagnostic and screening procedures, Family planning, Maternity and midwifery services, Surgical procedures and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 24 March 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at High Street Surgery on 4 April 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on 4 April 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for High Street Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 20 February 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection on 4 April 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

The practice had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. Staff were aware of the practice’s vision and strategy.
Information about services was available and appropriate steps were taken to bring this to patient’s attention.
Staff were aware of the practice’s policies and procedures to govern activity and they were followed.

At the inspection of 4 April 2016 there were some areas of practice where we said the provider should make improvements. We said the provider should:

Ensure where the decision has been made not to apply for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for staff, a risk assessment is carried out giving a clear rationale as to reasons why.
Ensure patients are made aware of the availability of translation services.
Ensure staff read all policies that apply to their job role.
Review and update procedures and guidance in particular those that relate to appraisals, meetings and reviews of practice development needs to ensure staff learning needs are identified.

At this inspection we found the necessary improvements had been made. All staff had undergone a DBS check and a notice in reception made patients aware of translation services. Measures were in place to ensure all staff read practice policies and processes were in place to identify staff learning needs.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice