Beauchamp House Surgery

Updated 10 March 2017

Dr Schultz and Partners is located in the centre of Chelmsford, Essex and provides GP services to approximately 12,000 patients. As Dr Schultz has retired from the partnership, the provider is in the process of updating its registration with the CQC to reflect its name as Beauchamp House.

The practice population has a similar number of children aged under 18 years compared to the CCG average, and fewer patients aged over 65 years of age. Unemployment levels are comparable to the CCG average and lower than the national average. The life expectancy of male and female patients is higher than the CCG and national average. The number of patients on the practice’s list that have long standing health conditions is lower than that of the CCG and the rest of England.

Dr Schultz and Partners is governed by a partnership of seven GPs, four of whom are female and three male. The practice is in the process of updating the CQC of the current GP partners. There is also one female salaried GP working at the practice, as well as three female registrars (a registrar is a qualified doctor who is training to become a GP). The nursing team comprises of a senior nurse, five practice nurses and two healthcare assistants.

A number of full and part time administrative and secretarial staff support practice manager, who works full time.

The practice is open from 8am until 6.30pm from Monday to Friday. Appointments are from 8.10am until 11.20 am every weekday morning and 2pm until 5.50pm every afternoon. The practice has temporarily ceased registering new patients, following a surge in new patient registrations.

Updated 10 March 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr Schultz and Partners, also known as Beauchamp House Surgery on 17 January 2017. 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. The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
• Risks to patients at the premises were assessed and well managed. Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with 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 had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• Data from the national GP patient survey showed patients were happy with the service that they were receiving.
• There was a commitment to learning, sharing information and improvement.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
• The practice proactively sought feedback from patients, which it acted on.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure patients with learning disabilities are invited to an annual health check.
• Improve the identification of patients who are carers.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 10 March 2017

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

• Performance for diabetes indicators was in line with CCG and national averages. Diabetic care was led by a named GP.

• The percentage of patients with diabetes whose cholesterol was within specified limits was 81%, which was comparable to the CCG average of 76% and England average of 80%.

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

• There were monthly multi-disciplinary meetings with other healthcare professionals to discuss complex patients.

• There were systems in place to ensure safe prescribing of repeat medicines, including those that were high-risk.

Updated 10 March 2017

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

• The midwife held a regular clinic at the practice.

• There were appointments available out of school hours.

• The practice carried out antenatal and postnatal checks.

• Childhood immunisation rates for the vaccinations given were comparable to CCG and national averages. Childhood immunisation rates for the vaccinations given to under two year olds ranged from 94% to 97% and five year olds from 94% to 95%.

• There were procedures in place to safeguard children from abuse.

• The practice had policies and trained staff on consent and capacity for young patients.

Updated 10 March 2017

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

• All patients who were aged 75 years and over were offered a flu vaccination and advised of their named GP.

• There were monthly frailty meetings attended by healthcare professionals to discuss the needs and share information about relevant patients.

• There was a lead GP for care homes where patients were living, who made regular visits which sought to ensure continuity of care.

• The practice used Information About Me (IAM) care plans where relevant to help patients to understand and be involved in their care.

Updated 10 March 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 available for patients who were unable to attend the practice

• Data for the year 2015/2016 showed that 74% of females aged 25-64 had attended for their cervical screening which was in line with the CCG and national averages.

• Appointment reminders could be sent by text message to patients providing their mobile phone number.

• There was online access to records, appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions. Prescriptions could be sent to pharmacies which were convenient to the patient.

• Appointments were available from 8.10am.

Updated 10 March 2017

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

• Performance for mental health indicators was comparable and in some instances higher than CCG and national averages.

• The percentage of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses who had a care plan documented in the record in the 12 months was 99%, which was above the CCG average of 89% and England average of 89%.

• The percentage of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses whose alcohol consumption had been recorded in the preceding 12 months was 88%, compared to the CCG average of 85% and England average of 89%.

• There was a counsellor at the practice one day a week.

• The Alzheimer’s society held regular sessions at the practice to provide support for patients living with dementia and their families.

Updated 10 March 2017

The practice is rated as good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

• The practice had identified 105 patients as carers, which amounted to 0.9% of the practice list. Carers were invited for flu vaccinations and provided with flexible appointments.

• Patient information leaflets and notices were available in the patient waiting area which told patients how to access a number of support groups and organisations.

• The practice had 58 adults on the learning disability register. In the last year, 12 health checks had been completed, 12 patients had declined an invitation health check and one patient did not attend their appointment. The practice was in the process of securing training for nursing staff to improve uptake for these health checks.

• The practice worked with local organisations to provide support and treatment for patients who were homeless or living with drug dependency issues.