The Lime Tree Surgery

Background to this inspection

Updated 27 November 2017

The Lime Tree Surgery is located in the town of Worthing and provides primary medical services to approximately 20,900 patients. The practice also provides care and treatment for the residents of four nearby care homes, which serve individuals with dementia or nursing needs.

There are seven GP partners and five salaried GP (six male, six female). The practice also has one female locum GP. The practice is registered as a GP training practice, supporting medical students and providing training opportunities for doctors seeking to become fully qualified GPs.

There are two nurse practitioners, five practice nurses, two health care assistants and one phlebotomist. GPs and nurses are supported by the practice manager, a patient services manager, and a team of reception and administration staff.

The practice had been going through a period of significant change. Just over two years ago the practice merged with another local practice which increased its number of registered patients by approximately 50 per cent. Data available to CQC shows the practice serves a higher than average number of patients who are aged 65 years and older when compared to the national average. The number of patients aged 18 years and under is slightly below the national average. The number of registered patients suffering income deprivation is below the national average.

The practice is open from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6.30pm. Extended hours appointments are offered at the Lime Tree Avenue site on Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 8am and on Mondays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Appointments can be booked over the phone, online or in person at the surgery. Patients are provided information on how to access an out of hours service by calling the surgery or viewing the practice website.

The practice has a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England. (A GMS contract is one between the practice and NHS England where elements of the contract such as opening times are standard). The practice is part of NHS Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group.

Services are provided from the following sites:

The Lime Tree Surgery

Lime Tree Avenue

Worthing

West Sussex

BN14 0DL

and

The Lime Tree Surgery

Durrington Health Centre

Durrington Lane

Worthing

West Sussex

BN13 2RX

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 27 November 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an unannounced focused inspection at The Lime Tree Surgery on 6 October 2017 in response to concerns raised directly with CQC. This related to patient access to services, quality of treatment, appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene and confidentiality of patient identifiable information. This report covers our findings in relation to the inspection on 6 October 2017. As a result of this inspection the provider’s rating remains unchanged and stays as Good.

Our key findings were as follows:

The practice had experienced a period of change following a recent merger.
We found the premises to be clean, tidy and in generally good repair both inside and out.
Staff demonstrated an understanding of the importance of patient confidentiality.
We found that the practice had taken positive steps to improve access to appointments and patients and staff told us access to appointments had improved.
Although lessons were learned from individual concerns and complaints, there was not sufficient communication about complaint outcomes between the practice management team.

However, there was one area of practice where the provider should make improvements.

The provider should:

Improve communication in relation to complaint outcomes between the practice management team and clinical staff.
Consider including the nursing team in clinical meetings, significant events meetings and complaints meetings.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice