South Reading Surgery Also known as South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Centre

Updated 9 August 2019

South Reading Surgery is one of two locations managed by South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Practice. South Reading Surgery has a different contract arrangement to Shinfield Health Centre. The provider shares policies and procedures and staff work across both sites. Patients registered at South Reading Surgery can be seen at Shinfield Health Centre if they prefer or if an earlier appointment is available.

South Reading Surgery is located within a converted two-storey house in a residential area of Reading. It is one of the practices within South Reading Clinical Commissioning Group and provides GP services to over 5,000 patients. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, Reading population demographics show a medium level of economic deprivation with pockets of low deprivation within the practice boundary. There is a higher percentage of unemployed patients compared to local and national averages. Ethnicity based on demographics collected in the 2011 census shows the population of Reading is predominantly White British with 13% of the practice population composed of patients with an Asian background and 10% from other non-white ethnic backgrounds.

Most staff work at both South Reading Surgery and Shinfield Health Centre because both practices are managed by the same partnership. There are three female GPs (two are partners) and a mix of regular locum GPs. The GPs split their time between the practices and offer 20 sessions at South Reading Surgery. This is equivalent to approximately 3.46 whole time GPs. The practice nurse currently works the equivalent of three days at South Reading Surgery and there is a health care assistant (HCA) at the practice every day. The practice employs a clinical pharmacist who works three days each week split between the practice sites. The practice manager is supported in the day to day running of the practice by a team of 11 administration and reception staff.

Services are provided from: South Reading Surgery, 257 Whitley Wood Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 8LE.

Updated 9 August 2019

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at South Reading Surgery on 13 September 2017. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the September 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for South Reading Surgery on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 14 March 2018 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 13 September 2017. 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:

• There was an appropriate system in place to respond to complaints and share learning arising from complaints.

• There was an effective system in place for keeping emergency equipment and medicines needed for medical emergencies. Both equipment and medicines were regularly checked.

• Staff received training appropriate to their roles.

• The practice had an action plan underway to improve access to the practice by telephone and to appointments. Whilst the actions identified were underway it was too early to evaluate whether they would be effective in improving access to the service.

• Staffing structures had been reviewed and recruitment campaigns launched to increase clinical staffing levels. Two part time practice nurses and a clinical pharmacist had been recruited.

• Staff were involved in the management of the practice via a weekly team meeting attended by team leaders and the partners.

• The practice had responded to an incident when water supply to part of the premises had been interrupted. A proposal to alter the business continuity plan had been recorded for agreement by the partners.

  However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

  Importantly, the provider should:

• Monitor implementation of their action plan and evaluate whether actions taken to improve access are effective.

At our previous inspection on 13 September 2017, we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing responsive services because feedback from patients was poor in regard to accessing the practice by telephone and obtaining appointments. At this inspection we found that the practice had clear plans in place to address patient feedback. However, the plan had commenced and there was further work to be undertaken. It was too early to evaluate if the plan would improve access. Consequently, the practice is still rated as requires improvement for providing responsive services.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 19 April 2018

The provider had taken the action included in their action plan and this population group is now rated good.

Updated 19 April 2018

The provider had taken the action included in their action plan and this population group is now rated good.

Updated 19 April 2018

The provider had taken the action included in their action plan and this population group is now rated good.

Updated 19 April 2018

The provider had taken the action included in their action plan and this population group is now rated good.

Updated 19 April 2018

The provider had taken the action included in their action plan and this population group is now rated good.

Updated 19 April 2018

The provider had taken the action included in their action plan and this population group is now rated good.