Dr Dipak Vidhu Shah's Practice Also known as Dr DV Shah's Practice- Pastures Way Surgery

Updated 14 July 2016

Dr Dipak Shah’s practice provides a range of primary care services from its location on Pastures Way Luton. The practice is also known as Pastures Way Surgery. It is a purpose built premises, on one level and has good disabled access.

The practice serves a population of approximately 4,400 patients. The area served by the practice was noted as having a deprivation score higher than the national average.

The clinical staff team consists of one male principle GP, two salaried GPs; one female and one male and one female practice nurse. The clinical team is supported by a practice manager, and a team of administrative and reception staff.

The practice provides services under a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract. A PMS contract is one locally agreed between NHS England and general practices for delivering general medical services.

The practice is open between 8.00am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday; NHS 111 provides service for patients requiring a GP out of normal hours.

Updated 14 July 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Dipak Vidhu Shah’s Practice on 15 December 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

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

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• Risks to patients were assessed and appropriately managed.

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

• The practice worked well with the patient participation group (PPG) and responded positively to new developments or questions raised.

• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.

• There was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

• There was a clear leadership structure, with clear aims and objectives to deliver good quality professional treatment and care.

• Staff felt supported by management. The practice encouraged a blame free culture

• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• The practice should ensure that verbal complaints and feedback from patients is always formally recorded and responded to.

• Continue to review access to appointments, following feedback received in the national GP patient survey.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 14 July 2016

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

• Designated staff had lead roles in chronic disease management and patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority.
• Hospital admissions for asthma patients were monitored and all patients were contacted for review.
• Longer appointments and home visits were available when necessary.
• All these patients had a named GP and a structured annual review to check their health and medicines needs were being met.
• For patients with the complex needs the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care, including counselling.

Updated 14 July 2016

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

• There were systems in place to identify and follow up children living in disadvantaged circumstances and who were at risk, for example, children and young people who had a high number of A&E attendances. Immunisation rates were comparable to the CCG average for all standard childhood immunisations.
• Patients told us that children and young people were treated in an age-appropriate way and were recognised as individuals, and we saw evidence to confirm this.
• 96% of female patients aged between 25-64 years had cervical screening in the previous five years, which was higher than the national average; 81%.
• Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies.
• Same day appointments were available for children.
• We saw positive examples of joint working with midwives and health visitors.

Updated 14 July 2016

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

• The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population.
• The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.
• The practice invited patients over 75 for annual review. Those patients who did not attend were contacted to discuss any problems they may be experiencing.
• Admissions and A&E attendances were monitored for actions.
• Referrals were routinely made to occupational therapy for required aids and adaptations for patients as required.
• The practice held regular multidisciplinary care meetings to review patients’ needs and identify possible action.

Updated 14 July 2016

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

• The needs of the working age population, those recently retired and students had been identified and the practice had adjusted the services it offered to ensure these were accessible, flexible and offered continuity of care.
• The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening that reflects the needs for this age group.
• Appointments early in the morning or at end of day were available and telephone consultations were routinely available.
• The practice offered electronic prescribing.
• Health checks were offered to new patients.
• The practice offered sexual health advice and health checks.

Updated 14 July 2016

The practice is rated as good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

• The practice had reviewed the care of 100% of patients diagnosed with dementia, in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months, which was higher than the national average of 84%.
• 95% of patients experiencing poor mental health had received a documented care plan in the preceding 12 months, which was above the national average of 88%.
• The practice worked with the local crisis and outreach teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.
• The practice carried out proactive care planning for patients with dementia.
• The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.
• The practice had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended Accident and Emergency where they may have been experiencing poor mental health.
• Staff had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia.

Updated 14 July 2016

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 multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people.
• The practice informed vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.
• Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse in vulnerable adults and children. Staff were aware of their responsibilities regarding information sharing, documentation of safeguarding concerns and how to contact relevant agencies in normal working hours and out of hours.
• Access to translation service was available and the practice website was available in various different languages.