Scots Gap Medical Group

Updated 14 January 2016

The practice is located in Scots Gap, around 11 miles to the west of Morpeth in Northumberland. Services are provided from the main base in Scots Gap and the branch surgery in Stamfordham, around 13 miles away. The practice covers the area from Elsdon in the north to Stamfordham in the south, and east to west Mitford to Ridsdale. The practice provides services from these two addresses and we visited both during this inspection:

• Main site: The Surgery, Scots Gap, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 4EG

• Branch surgery: 16 Grange Road, Stamfordham, Northumberland NE18 0PF

The practice at Scots Gap is based on the ground floor, with staff offices and facilities on the first floor. It also offers on-site parking, a WC, step-free access and a dispensary that provides medicines for patients who do not live near a pharmacy. The practice provides services to around 1,850 patients of all ages based on a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract agreement for general practice.

The practice has two GP partners (one male, one female), a practice nurse, a practice manager, two administrators and five staff with reception and dispensing duties.

The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out of hours is provided by the 111 service and Northern Doctors Urgent Care Limited.

Updated 14 January 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We inspected Scots Gap Medical Group on 9 October 2014 and visited the main surgery in Scots Gap and the branch surgery in Stamfordham. We inspected this service as part of our new comprehensive inspection programme. This provider had not been inspected before and that was why we included them.

Overall, we rated the practice as good, although there were some areas where the practice need to take action. Our key findings were as follows:

• Patients reported good access to the practice and continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• Patients said, and our observations confirmed, they were treated with kindness and respect.
• Patient outcomes were at or above average for the locality and good practice guidance was referenced and used routinely.
• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice learned from incidents and took action to prevent a recurrence.

We saw the following area of outstanding practice:

• The practice was considered to be outstanding in terms of their caring approach. Patients were respected and valued as individuals by the practice staff and feedback from patients reflected this.

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

Importantly, the practice must:

• Improve the way they manage medicines.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 8 January 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people with long term conditions. Emergency processes were in place and referrals made for patients in this group that had a sudden deterioration in health. When needed, longer appointments and home visits were available. Patients had reviews to check their health and medication needs were being met. The practice aimed to complete reviews for patients with more than one long term condition at the same appointment; reducing the need for patients to attend on multiple occasions. For those people with the most complex needs the GPs worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 8 January 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of families, children and young people. Systems were in place for identifying and following-up children living in disadvantaged circumstances and who were at risk. For example, A&E attendance rates for children and young people were routinely monitored. Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations. Patients told us that children and young people were treated in an age appropriate way and recognised as individuals. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises was suitable for children and babies. We were provided with examples of joint working with midwives and health visitors. Emergency processes were  in place and referrals made for children and pregnant women who had a sudden deterioration in health.

Updated 8 January 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. Nationally reported data showed the practice had good outcomes for conditions commonly found amongst older people. The practice offered personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population. The practice had written to patients over the age of 75 years to inform them who their named GP was. The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, including offering home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 8 January 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of the 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 offer continuity of care. The practice was proactive in offering online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening which reflected the needs for this age group.

Updated 8 January 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). Patients experiencing poor mental health had received an annual physical health check. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health including those with dementia. The practice had care planning in place for patients with dementia.

The practice had sign-posted patients experiencing poor mental health to various support groups and third sector organisations. Information and leaflets about services were made available to patients within the practice.

Updated 8 January 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people whose circumstances may make  them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with learning disabilities. The practice had carried out health checks for people with learning disabilities. The practice offered longer appointments for people, if required.

The practice worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable people. The practice had sign-posted vulnerable patients to various support groups and third sector 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 and out of hours.