Willenhall Primary Care Centre - 1 Also known as Dr Sharma and Partners

Updated 27 January 2017

Willenhall Primary Care Centre is located in Willenhall, a suburb in the south-east of Coventry City in the West Midlands. The premises is shared with another GP practice with a very similar name.

There is direct access to the practice by public transport from surrounding areas. There are some limited parking facilities on site as well as street parking.

The practice currently has a list size of 4666 patients.

The practice holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England. The GMS contract is held between general practices and NHS England for the delivery of primary care services to the local communities. The practice provides GP services commissioned by NHS Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). A CCG is an organisation that brings together local GPs and experienced health professionals to take on commissioning responsibilities for local health services.

The practice is situated in an area with very high levels of deprivation; level 1 of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). The practice has a higher than national average number of children and adults population. It has lower than the national average number of adults who have reached retirement age and older aged people.

A higher number of patients registered at the practice are unemployed (16%) compared with the local CCG (7%) and national averages (5%).

The practice is currently managed by three GP partners (one male and two female). The practice also has two female salaried GPs. They are supported by two female practice nurses and a female healthcare assistant. The practice also employs a practice manager and a team of reception, clerical and administrative staff.

The practice is a teaching practice and has four students placements per year.

The practice is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 6.30pm. Appointments are available Mondays 8.50am to 12.20pm, 2.30pm to 5.30pm, Tuesdays 9am to 12pm, 3.30pm to 6pm, Wednesdays 9am to 12pm, 4pm to 6pm, Thursdays 8.50am to 12pm, 3pm to 5pm and Fridays 9am to 12.30pm, 3.15pm to 5pm. The practice operates extended hours services through the GP alliance it is affiliated with. Patients can therefore be seen at three other practices each weekday evening from 6.30pm up until 9.30pm and weekend mornings from 9am to 12pm by pre-booking an appointment. Outside of this cover, out of hours service is provided by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust. Patients can contact NHS 111.

Updated 27 January 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Willenhall Primary Care Centre – 1 on 7 October 2016. 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. Learning outcomes were shared with staff.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed. This included effective systems being in place to monitor the safety of equipment, health and safety practices and infection control measures.
• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patient feedback showed they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and were also involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. The practice adopted a responsive approach to complaints received. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Feedback showed that patients found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. Longer appointments were available for patients in vulnerable circumstances.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• The practice was forward thinking and participated in pilots aimed at improving healthcare for its patients as well as those who were not registered with the practice.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice sought feedback from staff and patients.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

We saw an area of outstanding practice

Practice management had engaged with the needs of their population which had a higher unemployment rate when compared with local and national averages. Practice staff had initiated contact with representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions in efforts to help their patients understand their employment options and benefit entitlements. As a result, an advisor attended the practice on a regular basis and we were provided with specific examples where this had directly impacted upon their patients’ health and wellbeing.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 27 January 2017

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

• Nursing staff had lead roles in chronic disease management and patients at risk of hospital admission were identified as a priority.

• Performance for all diabetes related indicators was 92% which was above the CCG and national average of 90%. The percentage of patients with diabetes with a record of a foot examination and risk classification was 89% which was the same as the CCG and national averages.

• Joint clinics were held with the community diabetes team to ensure that the most effective care was delivered for those patients with complex needs.

• The practice was involved in a trial to optimise the care of its patients with asthma. The aims of the exercise included better diagnosis and improved patient compliance with medicines.

• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.

• All these patients had a named GP and a structured annual review to check their health and medicines needs were being met. For those patients with the most complex needs, the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 27 January 2017

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 for all standard childhood immunisations ranged from 76% to 100%. This was comparable to CCG averages which ranged from 82% to 98%.

• Staff 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.

• Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises were suitable for children and babies.

• We saw evidence of joint working with healthcare professionals involved in the care and protection of children. This included liaison with health visiting staff and school nurses.

• The practice referred its patients who required parenting support and young persons with psychological / emotional problems to specialist organisation to assist them.

Updated 27 January 2017

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 told us they had identified a number of older patients with carer responsibilities and tailored support was provided to them.

• The practice was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs.

• We spoke with a community matron who worked in a service (Integrated Neighbourhood Team) which helped frail elderly people become more independent and safer within their own homes. The matron told us the practice was proactive in making referrals to the service.

• The practice provided flu vaccinations to its housebound patients who could not attend the practice.

Updated 27 January 2017

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. Telephone consultations were offered to patients to benefit those of working age.

• The practice was participating in a prescription ordering direct (POD) initiative which enabled patients to request repeat prescriptions via a centralised telephone system.

• 79% of women aged over 25 but under 65 had received a cervical screening test in the previous five years. The practice was performing close to the CCG and national average of 81%.

• A range of long term contraceptive services were offered to patients.

• 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.

Updated 27 January 2017

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

• 90% of patients with a mental health condition had a documented care plan in place in the previous 12 months. This was above the CCG average of 85% and above the national average of 89%.

• 96% of patients diagnosed with dementia had had their care reviewed in a face to face meeting in the last 12 months. This was above the CCG average of 81% and national average of 84%.

• Nursing staff told us that patients who had dementia were referred to a service provided by admiral nurses. Admiral nurses are specialist dementia nurses who give expert practical, clinical and emotional support to families living with dementia to help them cope.

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia. Two of the GPs were also continuing their professional development by undertaking studies in mental health.

• The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. This included support for patients with mild to moderate mental health problems. (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy)

Updated 27 January 2017

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. There were 24 patients on the register. We were informed that the practice had recently started to undertake enhanced review checks for these patients.

• The practice offered longer appointments for patients with a learning disability.

• The practice regularly worked with other health care professionals in the case management of vulnerable patients.

• The practice informed vulnerable patients about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations. These included support for refugees / migrants, support and counselling for victims of sexual abuse or assault and support for those affected by alcohol or drugs.

• 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.