Archived: Litherland Practice

Updated 26 November 2015

Litherland Practice is located in the Litherland area of Liverpool. It is responsible for providing primary care services to approximately 2705 patients. The practice population are of mixed gender and ages.

The staff team includes one regular GP who is not directly employed by SSP Health Ltd with additional GP services provided by locum and self-employed GPs. There is a practice manager, reception and administration staff. The practice is open 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Patients requiring a GP outside of normal working hours are advised to contact the GO to DOC service.

The practice has a Personal Medical Service (PMS) contract and also offers enhanced services for example; childhood Vaccination and Immunisation Scheme, flu and shingles vaccinations and facilitating timely diagnosis and support for people with dementia.

Updated 26 November 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Litherland Practice on 10 September 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing safe, well-led, effective, caring and responsive services. It was also good for providing services for all the population groups it serves.

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

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.

• Urgent appointments were available the same day but not necessarily with the GP of their choice.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

• Recruitment records needed improvement with regard to the carrying out of health checks on prospective employees and or locum staff.

• 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 and easy to understand.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

There were areas where the provider should make improvements.

Importantly the provider should:

• Ensure that health assessments are considered as part of the recruitment process to ensure staff are able to carry out their roles effectively.
• Ensure that the practice website contains sufficient health promotion information for patients.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General f findings

Updated 26 November 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of people with long-term conditions. The practice nurse 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. The practice held information about the prevalence of specific long term conditions within its patient population such as diabetes, cardio vascular disease and hypertension. This information was reflected in the services provided, for example, reviews of conditions and treatment, screening programmes and vaccination programmes.

Updated 26 November 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of families, children and young people. Child health development and immunisation clinics were provided. Childhood immunisation rates for the vaccinations given were comparable to or exceeded CCG averages. The practice monitored any non-attendance of babies and children at vaccination clinics and worked with the health visiting service to follow up any concerns. There was a policy of same day appointments for all children. The staff we spoke with had appropriate knowledge about child protection and they had access to policies and procedures for safeguarding children. Staff put alerts onto the patient’s electronic record when safeguarding concerns were raised.

Updated 26 November 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older people. Nationally reported data showed that outcomes for patients were good for conditions commonly found in older people. The practice offered proactive, personalised care to meet the needs of the older people in its population and had a range of enhanced services, for example, in dementia and end of life care. It was responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits and rapid access appointments for those with enhanced needs.

Updated 26 November 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of working-age people (including those recently retired and students). The practice offered pre-bookable appointments, book on the day appointments and telephone consultations. Patients could book appointments in person or via the telephone and repeat prescriptions could be ordered on-line which provided flexibility to working patients and those in full time education. The practice had introduced a system whereby patients could cancel their appointments by text which made it easier for patients and aimed to increase access by reducing wasted appointments. Health checks were offered to patients who did not have any existing chronic disease to promote patient well-being and prevent any health concerns.

Updated 26 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia). The practice maintained a register of patients receiving support with their mental health. Patients experiencing poor mental health were offered an annual health check and a high proportion had a mental health care plan agreed and reviewed. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.

Updated 26 November 2015

The practice is rated good for the care of people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances including those with a learning disability. It had carried out annual health checks and longer appointments were available for people with a learning disability. Staff had been trained 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.