Hall Grove Practice Also known as Hall Grove Group Practice

Updated 20 April 2018

Hall Grove Practice provides primary medical services to approximately 15,900 patients in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The practice operates across two sites. Hall Grove Practice is the main practice and Parkway Surgery is a branch surgery located approximately two miles away in the centre of Welwyn Garden City. We visited both premises as part of this inspection. Services are provided on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract (a nationally agreed contract). The practice has a registered manager in place. (A registered manager is an individual registered with CQC to manage the regulated activities provided).

The practice serves a slightly higher than average population of those aged 65 years and over. The population is 88% White British (2011 Census data). The area served is less deprived compared to England as a whole.

The practice team consists of 10 GP partners; six of which are male and four are female. There are five practice nurses, including two nurses who are qualified to prescribe certain medicines, one health care assistant, a practice manager and 27 administration and reception staff members.

Hall Grove Practice has been approved to train doctors who are undertaking further training (from four months up to one year depending on where they are in their educational process) to become general practitioners. The practice currently has three GP trainees, all of which are ST3 GP trainees (third year of speciality training).

The practice is open to patients at both premises between 8.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Patients are able to contact an emergency telephone number for the practice between 8am and 8.30am. Appointments with a GP or nurse are available from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 6.30pm daily. Emergency appointments are available daily with the duty doctor. A telephone consultation service is also available for those who need urgent advice.

The practice offers extended opening hours at both premises between 6.30pm and 8pm one evening a week, between 7am and 8am on Wednesday or Thursday at the branch surgery  and from 9am to 11.30am on alternate Saturdays. Emergency appointments are available daily with the duty doctor. A telephone consultation service is also available for those who need urgent advice.

Home visits are available to those patients who are unable to attend the surgery. The Out of Hours service is provided by Herts Urgent Care and can be accessed via the NHS 111 service.

Updated 20 April 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection July 2016 – Good)

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 Hall Grove Practice on 14 March 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions.

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 routinely 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. Results from the latest National GP Patient Survey results showed patients were satisfied with their interactions with reception staff and consultations with GP and nurses.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• Governance structures, systems and processes were effective and enabled the provider to identify, assess and mitigate risks to patients, staff and others.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

The area where the provider should make improvements is:

• Establish a process to ensure portable appliance testing is undertaken on a regular basis.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018

Updated 20 April 2018