A Westminster surgery has been rated Outstanding overall - for a second time - by the Care Quality Commission.
The Doctor Hickey Surgery has been rated Outstanding for being caring, responsive and well-led. It was rated Good for bring safe and effective, following an inspection in March 2018.
The surgery, based in The Cardinal Hume Centre in Arneway Street, looks after approximately 2,300 homeless people in Westminster. Clinicians provide a wide range of medical services including the management of substance misuse, alcohol abuse and mental illness. It has been providing services to homeless people for 30 years.
Inspectors found that as well as maintaining the highest levels of care to patients, the surgery had developed several further areas of Outstanding practice. Since CQC’s previous inspection in 2015, the practice has, together with a local community health charitable trust, provided health and wellbeing packs to meet the immediate needs of rough sleepers. The packs contain food vouchers, toiletries, sleeping bags, simple medicines, vitamins and dental and hygiene material.
The Doctor Hickey Surgery has continued its partnership with a local food business which provides sandwiches for patients. People said they especially welcomed this and the hot drinks available.
The practice continued to run the Street Doctor Programme, a medical outreach project where clinicians and council officials carry out night time walks to try and help improve the general health of rough sleepers.
The practice participated in a Homeless Health Peer Advocacy project commissioned by Central London CCG which aims to help improve the health of currently homeless people - primarily through charity based Peer Advocates offering one to one support to help access health services by accompanying people to appointments.
However, there are some areas where the practice should make improvements:
- Review progress on the arrangements for an externally provided health and safety check of the practice premises and equipment.
- Review the practice’s infection control policy to consider the inclusion of the assessment of patients with presumed sepsis.
- Review cervical screening uptake at the practice.
Professor Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector, Primary Medical Services, said: “I am delighted to see the excellent work carried out by The Dr Hickey Surgery has continued. The outstanding care the team at the practice provide for homeless people in Westminster contains examples of innovative practice and of partnership working - caring for people whose circumstances make them vulnerable.”
You can read the inspection report in full once it has been published on CQC’s website at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-548202361
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