The Almondbury Surgery

Updated 25 July 2018

The Almondbury Surgery is located at Longcroft, Almondbury, Huddersfield, HD5 8XW. The surgery operates from a well-equipped, purpose built location and is situated in a semi-rural district of Huddersfield. The surgery has good public transport links and ample parking and accessible facilities.

Practice website: www.almondburysurgery.org.uk

The practice catchment area is classed as being within one of the more deprived areas in England. The practice scored five on the deprivation measurement scale; the deprivation scale goes from one to ten, with one being the most deprived. People living in more deprived areas tend to have greater need for health services. There are currently 6,530 patients on their practice list. The National General Practice Profile describes the practice ethnicity as being 5% Asian, 3% black, and 4% mixed and 1% other non-white ethnicities.

The practice demographics show a slightly higher than average percentage of people in the 75+ year age group. Average life expectancy is 77 years for men and 81 years for women compared to the national average of 79 and 83 years respectively. The General Practice Profile shows that 47% of patients registered at the practice have a long standing health condition, compared to 52% locally and 54% nationally.

The patient population experiences average levels of deprivation and has both affluent and disadvantaged groups. The ethnicity of the community is mainly white British. 

The practice has four part time GP partners (two male and two female). There is also a part-time advanced nurse practitioner and two part-time practice nurses (all female).

They are supported by two part-time health care assistants and a team of administrative staff along with a full-time practice manager.

The practice is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Consultations are available throughout the day.

The practice delivers General Medical Services (GMS contract) for the Greater Huddersfield Clinical

Commissioning Group. Out of hours services are provided by Local Care Direct when the practice is closed.

When we returned to the practice for this inspection, we checked, and saw that the previously awarded ratings were displayed, as required, in the practice premises. The overall rating was displayed on the practice website with a link to the inspection report.

The Almondbury Surgery is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
• Family planning
• Maternity and midwifery services
• Surgical procedures

Updated 25 July 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating May 2017 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive at The Almondbury Surgery on 19 June 2018 as part of our inspection programme.

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.
• The practice had a significant number of patients resident in nursing homes for older people. They provided a weekly ‘ward round’ to monitor the health and well-being of this group of patients.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients spoke positively about the care they received from the practice, which was in line with the friends and family test and the national GP patient survey data.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
• Staff told us the leadership team was supportive and approachable.
• The governance in the practice supported good practice.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Updated 25 July 2018

Updated 25 July 2018

Updated 25 July 2018

Updated 25 July 2018

Updated 25 July 2018

Updated 25 July 2018