Updated
11 May 2016
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
When we visited Cornerstone Practice in October 2014 we found concerns related to the safe delivery of services.
We found that the practice required improvement for the provision of safe services because improvements were needed in the way the security of blank prescriptions was managed and some relevant staff checks had not been undertaken. Cornerstone Practice sent us an action plan that set out the changes they would make to improve these areas.
This desktop review was undertaken to ensure the practice had made these changes and that the service was meeting regulations. For this reason we have only rated the location for the key question to which this related. This report should be read in conjunction with the full inspection report of 14 October 2014.
Specifically Cornerstone Practice was:
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Assessing the responsibilities and activities of staff to determine if they require a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check. (These checks identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable).
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Performing DBS checks when recruiting nurses.
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Operating a consistent system to maintain the security of blank prescriptions.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice
People with long term conditions
Updated
5 February 2015
The practice is rated as good for the population group of patients 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 a named GP and structured annual reviews to check their health and medicine 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.
Families, children and young people
Updated
5 February 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 who were at risk. For example, there was an alert system on the patients’ electronic record. Immunisation rates were relatively high for all standard childhood immunisations. Staff explained how young 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 were suitable for children and babies. We were provided with good examples of joint working with other health care providers supporting mothers and children.
Updated
5 February 2015
The practice is rated as good for the care of older patients. Nationally reported data showed the practice had good outcomes for conditions commonly found amongst older patients. The practice offered personalised care to meet the needs of the older patients in its population and had a range of enhanced services, for example in dementia and end of life care. The practice was responsive to the needs of older patients, including home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs.
Working age people (including those recently retired and students)
Updated
5 February 2015
The practice is rated as good for the population group of the working-age patients (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 offered online services as well as a full range of health promotion and screening which reflected the needs for this age group.
People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia)
Updated
5 February 2015
The practice is rated as good for the population group of patients experiencing poor mental health (including patients with dementia). All patients recorded on the register as experiencing mental health issues had a care plan in place. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of patients experiencing poor mental health including those with dementia.
The practice had information to sign-post patients experiencing poor mental health to various support groups and third sector organisations. GPs had received training on how to care for patients with mental health needs and dementia. GPs supported other healthcare providers to provide palliative care for patients with dementia.
People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable
Updated
5 February 2015
The practice is rated as good for the population group of patients whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including patients with learning disabilities. Patients with learning disabilities had annual health check and were offered longer appointments if they needed them. The practice had previously provided primary care services to travellers and understood how to support their lifestyle behaviours.
The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of vulnerable patients. The practice 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.