Orrell Park Medical Centre

Updated 20 September 2017

Orrell Park Medical Centre is located in the outskirts of Liverpool. There were 4048 patients registered at the practice at the time of our inspection.

The practice is a teaching and training practice and has two male GPs, a female GP registrar, a practice nurse, a healthcare assistant, and reception and administration staff. The practice uses locum GPs to cover unplanned absences. 

The practice is open 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. The practice offers extended hours opening on Tuesday until 8pm. Patients requiring a GP appointment outside of normal opening hours are advised to contact NHS 111.

The practice held a primary medical services contract (PMS) and is commissioned by NHS South Sefton local commissioning group.

Updated 20 September 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Orrell Park Medical Centre on 14 August 2017. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• Orrell Park Medical Centre is situated in a health centre shared with other community clinics. There is disabled access, a hearing loop and translation facilities.

• There were systems in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• Staff were aware of current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients we spoke with said there had been improvements in the appointment system and it was now easier to make an appointment. Urgent appointments were available the same day.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 20 September 2017

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

• There was a system to recall patients for 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.

• The practice provided pharmacy support to support safe prescribing.

• The practice had a cancer champion who maintained the patient register and provided support.

• The practice provided flu clinics for patients with chronic conditions.

Updated 20 September 2017

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

• The practice worked with midwives and health visitors to support this population group. For example, in the provision of ante-natal, post-natal and child health surveillance clinics and provided immunisations.

• The practice had an ‘early years’ fact sheet to provide information including such issues as immunisations.

• The practice had developed an ‘Access for Children’ policy to ensure that all children under five could be seen on the same day if required.

• The practice provided an immunisation and vaccination service to young people attending further education.

Updated 20 September 2017

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

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

• The practice identified at an early stage older patients who may need palliative care as they were approaching the end of life. It involved older patients in planning and making decisions about their care, including their end of life care.

• The practice followed up on older patients discharged from hospital and ensured that their care plans were updated to reflect any extra needs.

Updated 20 September 2017

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

• 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.

• The practice had additional evening appointments available once a week for patients who could not attend during normal working hours. The practice also offered telephone consultations.

Updated 20 September 2017

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 living with dementia.

• The practice was able to signpost patients experiencing poor mental health to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• Staff had received training about suicide awareness and dementia.

Updated 20 September 2017

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 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 had information available for vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• The practice worked with the local alcohol and drug recovery team.

• The practice had a hearing loop to support communication.