Upton Rocks Surgery

Updated 9 March 2018

Upton Rocks Surgery is operated by SSP Heath GPMS Ltd. Following a change to the details of the provider this service was re-registered in February 2016. It is located at Heath Road Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 7NU in the car park of Widnes Rugby Union car park. There is also a branch practice which is situated in Hale Village approximately three miles from the main practice. The website address is www.ssphealth.com

The practice provides a range of primary medical services including examinations, investigations and treatments and a number of clinics such as clinics for long term conditions like diabetes, asthma and hypertension, travel and children’s immunisations clinics.

The practice is responsible for providing primary care services to approximately 3678 patients. The practice is based in an area with higher levels of economic deprivation when compared to other practices nationally.

The staff team includes one male and two female GPs who have independent contracts with the provider. The practice also has a locum GP (the provider has recruited a team of GPs referred to as bank GPs who can provide short term cover at their practices) one day per week. To promote continuity of care this is usually the same clinician. One female practice nurse and one female health care assistant. The non-clinical team includes a regional manager, a practice manager and reception and administrative staff.

Upton Rocks Surgery is open from 8am to 7.30pm on Monday and from 8am to 6.30pm Tuesday to Friday. The branch surgery is open Wednesday 1pm-2.30pm and Friday 12.30pm-2pm. Patients also have access to a local walk-in centre which is open every day. Patients requiring a GP outside of these hours are advised to contact the GP out of hours service, by calling 111.

The main practice delivers services from a porta cabin building. The surgery has been operating from the porta cabin for approximately 17 years. A ramp is available at the front of the building to assist with access. A large car park is available for patients and staff. The provider told us that they are working with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Patient Participation Group (PPG) to ensure the practice remains viable for the future. This includes consultation about the relocation of the main site and the sustainability of the branch practice.

The practice has a Primary Medical Service (PMS) contract. The practice offers a range of enhanced services including, learning disability health checks, childhood immunisations and vaccines and seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.

Updated 9 March 2018

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

This practice is rated as Good overall.

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

As part of our inspection process, we also look at the quality of care for specific population groups. The population groups are rated as:

Older People – Good

People with long-term conditions – Good

Families, children and young people – Good

Working age people (including those recently retired and students) – Good

People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable – Good

People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia) - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Upton Rocks Surgery on 29 January 2018 as part of our 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 reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.

• 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 clear focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

• The practice had identified members of staff as champions for patients with a learning disability, dementia and cancer and for patients who had been bereaved or who acted as carers. The provider told us these patients were proactively contacted by the champions so they knew about the support available, were also signposted to the most appropriate services, received timely intervention and the care they needed.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 9 March 2018

Updated 9 March 2018

Updated 9 March 2018

Updated 9 March 2018

Updated 9 March 2018

Updated 9 March 2018