Moreton Medical Centre - A Pereira Also known as Moreton Medical Centre

Updated 24 August 2016

Moreton Medical Centre is based in a residential area of Wirral. There were 5597 patients on the practice register at the time of our inspection.

The practice is a training practice and is managed by three GP partners (two female, one male). There is a salaried GP and two registrars. There are two practice nurses and a healthcare assistant. Members of clinical staff are supported by a practice manager, reception and administration staff.

The practice is open 8am to 6.30pm every weekday and offers extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 7.30pm. Out of hours patients are asked to contact the NHS 111 service to obtain healthcare advice or treatment.

The practice has a General Medical Services (GMS) contract and has enhanced services contracts which include childhood vaccinations.

Updated 24 August 2016

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Moreton Medical Centre on 23 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• The practice was situated in converted residential premises and was clean and had good facilities including disabled access, translation services and a hearing loop.

• Patient survey information and comments reviewed showed comparable satisfaction rates with local and national averages with regards to making appointments and being able to get through to the practice on the telephone.

• There were systems in place to mitigate safety risks including analysing significant events and safeguarding. There were good use of risk assessments and monitoring for the overarching health and safety aspects of the practice.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current legislation.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. The practice sought patient views about improvements that could be made to the service; including having a patient participation group (PPG) and acted, where possible, on feedback.

• Staff worked well together as a team and all felt supported to carry out their roles.

We saw elements of outstanding practice:

• Patients were given blood pressure and pulse checks at their flu vaccination appointments to increase detection of atrial fibrillation.

• Patients with mental health needs were supported by the practice in a holistic manner. Clinicians identified patients who were extremely vulnerable and worked with other agencies to ensure changes in clinicians were managed in a supportive and therapeutic manner.

However, the practice should:

• Improve safety netting systems in place for urgent referrals to ensure patients have been seen.

• Provide the correct alternative contact information for patients to raise complaints

• Update risk assessments for what is required for use of emergency medications within the practice.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 24 August 2016

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.

• Longer appointments and home visits were available when needed.

• All these patients had a named GP and a structured six monthly 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.

• There was an in house phlebotomy clinic and checks for patients taking warfarin.

Updated 24 August 2016

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

• Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations.

• The practice met with health visitors on a monthly basis to discuss safeguarding concerns.

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

Updated 24 August 2016

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

• Blood pressure checks and pulse checks were carried out for older patients attending for flu vaccinations to improve atrial fibrillation detection.

Updated 24 August 2016

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.

• 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.

• The practice had a 24 hour telephone access to book/check or cancel appointments using automated system.

Updated 24 August 2016

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

• The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.

• The practice carried out advance care planning for patients with dementia.

• The practice had told patients experiencing poor mental health about how to access various support groups and voluntary organisations.

• The practice had a system in place to follow up patients who had attended accident and emergency where they may have been experiencing poor mental health.

• Staff had a good understanding of how to support patients with mental health needs and dementia. Staff were dementia friends.

• Patients with mental health needs were supported by the practice in a holistic manner. Clinicians identified patients who were extremely vulnerable and worked with other agencies to ensure changes in clinicians were managed in a supportive and therapeutic manner.

Updated 24 August 2016

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 homeless people, travellers and those with a learning disability.

• 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.

• 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.