Archived: Berkley Practice

Updated 5 March 2015

Berkley Medical Centre is based in the Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) The practice provides primary medical services to approximately 4200 patients in the local community.

On the day of our inspection the practice had three GPs. Additional staff included a practice manager, one nurse practitioner and one practice nurses, a health care assistant and seven administrative staff who supported the practice

The practice offered a range of clinics and services including asthma, diabetes, COPD and Immunisations.

The Badger Group provided primary medical services to the practice patients outside of normal surgery hours.

Updated 5 March 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We completed a comprehensive inspection at Berkley Medical Centre on 13 October 2014. The overall rating for the practice is good. We found the practice to be good in the effective, safe, caring, responsive and well-led. We found the practice provided good care to people with long term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people, older people, people in vulnerable groups and people experiencing poor mental health.

Our key findings were as follows:

• Patients were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm. The staff we spoke with understood their roles and responsibilities and there were policies and processes in place for safeguarding children.

• Patients received care and treatment to support good outcomes which promoted a good quality of life.

• Staff were caring and treated patients with dignity and respect.

• The practice had taken action to improve the appointment booking process.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

• The practice proactively sort feedback from staff and patients and this was acted upon.

However, there were also areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

In addition the provider should:

• Review how, in the absence of specific training, assurance is gained in relation to the knowledge and understanding of staff, for example, infection control, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding vulnerable adults.
• A risk assessment should be in place when making decisions non the necessity of DBS checks.
• Gain assurance from the property management that appropriate, maintenance and risk assessments are in place.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 5 March 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of people with long term conditions. The practice nurses and health care assistant regularly reviewed the long term condition register to ensure patients were reminded when a review of their condition and treatment was required.

The practice was taking part in a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) pilot scheme where the practice nurse completed home visits for patients whose age or fragility meant they were unable to access the practice. We saw good outcomes for people who were supported to manage and monitor their long term conditions.

Updated 5 March 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of families, children and young people. Immunisation clinics were in place. The nurses we spoke with were aware of their performance figures and uptake was in line with the national average. Appointments were available outside of school hours and the premises was suitable for children and babies.

Updated 5 March 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. The practice offered proactive, personalised care which included home visits where appropriate. The practice were taking part in a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) pilot scheme where the practice nurse or health care assistant completed home visits for patients whose age or fragility meant they were unable to access the practice. This was to monitor and support long term conditions and health checks.

Updated 5 March 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of the working-age population and those recently retired. The needs of the working age population, those recently retired and students were considered with early evening appointments being available. The practice was proactive in offering online services for ordering prescriptions as well as offering health checks for this group of patients.

Updated 5 March 2015

The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health. The practice had a system for referring patients experiencing poor mental health to community services for support.

The nurse we spoke with told us that they had been supported to gain the necessary knowledge and understanding to refer patients to community services when necessary. We saw that contact details for the mental health team were available.

Updated 5 March 2015

Staff knew their responsibility in relation to safeguarding children. Staff were aware of their responsibilities regarding information sharing, documentation of safeguarding concerns and how to contact relevant agencies in and out of service hours.

Patients with learning disabilities were not routinely offered an annual physical health check.