Archived: Buttercross Health Centre

Updated 9 April 2015

The Buttercross Health Centre is a new purpose built practice located in Somerton, Somerset. It was inspected on 2 December 2014. This was a comprehensive inspection.

Staff at the practice explained that since 2013 they had been through a turbulent time. The original partnership dissolved, the then Primary Care Trust (PCT) took over the running of the practice until the GPs and staff from the Penn Hill Surgery in Yeovil provided the GP services within the practice. Re-organisation of nearby GP practices to form the Pathways Group resulted in the Buttercross Health Centre being under their umbrella to provide services. In January 2014 performance issues were identified and this has resulted in a large number of new staff being employed within the practice.

The practice provides primary medical services to approximately 5,050 patients living within a five mile radius from the practice. There is one full time female medical director, and four part time female GPs. A male GP from another practice within the group would be available if requested. The GPs were supported by three registered nurses, two healthcare assistants, a practice manager, and additional administrative and reception staff.

Patients using the practice also have access to community staff including district nurses, health visitors, and midwives.

The Buttercross practice is open from 8:30am to 6pm Monday to Friday with one extended evening a week with pre bookable appointments available for patients who are unable to attend during the day. During evenings and weekends, when the practice is closed, patients are directed to the minor ailment scheme provided by neighbouring pharmacies, the minor injury unit based in a nearby hospital and the Yeovil walk in centre which is open 365 days a year. For emergencies patients are directed to call the NHS 111 out of hour’s service.

Updated 9 April 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of the Buttercross Health Centre in the village of Somerton on 2 December 2014. The Buttercross Health Centre in, Somerton, Somerset provides primary medical services to people living within a five mile radius of the town. The practice provides services to a diverse age group.

Our key findings were as follows:

The Buttercross Health Centre operated a weekday service to over 5,050 patients in Somerton and surrounded villages. The practice was responsible for providing primary care, which included access to the GP, minor surgery, ante and post natal care as well as other clinical services. At the time of our inspection there were four female GPs, three practice nurses, two healthcare assistants, a medical director, a practice manager, and additional administrative and reception staff.

Patients who use the practice had access to community staff including district nurses, health visitors, physiotherapists, counsellors, and midwives.

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

We found that staff were well supported and the practice was well led with a clear vision and objectives. Staff had knowledge of safeguarding procedures for children and vulnerable adults although not all of the staff had received training in these areas.

Patients we spoke to and the comment cards we looked at confirmed that people were happy with the service and the professionalism of the GPs and nurses. They told us that they were always treated with kindness and respect. The practice was spacious with easy access for patients with mobility difficulties and patients with pushchairs. The practice was clean and there were effective infection control procedures in place.

There was an open culture within the organisation and a clear complaints policy.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

The provider should:

Ensure that all staff receive up to date training in Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 9 April 2015

The practice is rated as good for providing care to people with long term conditions. The practice managed the care and treatment for patients with long term conditions in line with best practice and national guidance. Health promotion and health checks were offered in line with national guidelines for specific conditions such as diabetes and asthma. Longer appointments were available for patients if required, such as those with long term conditions. The practice had a carers' register run by a carers champion and all carers were contacted by telephone to offer them an appointment for a carers' check with nursing staff.

Updated 9 April 2015

The practice is rated as good for families, children and young people. Staff worked well with the midwife to provide prenatal and postnatal care. Postnatal health checks were provided by a GP. The practice provided baby and child immunisation programmes to ensure babies and children could access a full range of vaccinations and health screening. Information relevant to young patients was displayed and health checks and advice on sexual health for men, women and young people included a full range of contraception services and sexual health screening including chlamydia testing and cervical screening. The GPs training in safeguarding children from abuse was at the required level.

Updated 9 April 2015

The practice is rated as good for providing care to older people. Health checks and promotion were offered to this group of patients. There were safeguards in place to identify adults in vulnerable circumstances. The practice worked well with external professionals in delivering care to older patients, including end of life care. Pneumococcal vaccination and shingles vaccinations were provided at the practice for older people during routine appointments. Staff recognised that some patients required additional help when being referred to other agencies and assisted them with this.

Updated 9 April 2015

The practice is rated as good for providing care to working age people. The practice provided appointments on the same day. If these appointments were not available then a telephone consultation with a GP would be booked The practice operated extended opening hours one evening a week. Males over the age of 65 years were invited to attend screening for abdominal aortic screening. The practice website invited all patients aged over 45 years to arrange to have a health check with a healthcare assistant if they wanted. A cervical screening service was available.

Updated 9 April 2015

The practice is rated as requires improvement for people experiencing poor mental health, including people with dementia. The practice was aware of their aging population group. Staff were aware of the safeguarding principles but required training. GPs and nurses had access to safeguarding policies. The practice were aware of patients that suffered poor mental health. There was signposting and information available to patients. The practice referred patients who needed mental health services. Some support services were provided at the practice, such as Talking Therapies. Patients suffering poor mental health were offered annual health checks as recommended by national guidelines.

Updated 9 April 2015

The practice is rated as good for people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice had a vulnerable patient register to identify these patients. Vulnerable patients were reviewed at team meetings. Referral to a counselling service was available. The practice did not provide primary care services for patients who were homeless as none were known. However, staff said they would not turn away a patient if they needed primary care and could not access it. Patients who needed support from interpretation services were known to the practice and staff knew how to access these services. Patients with learning disabilities were offered a health check every year during which their long term care plans were discussed with the patient and their carer if appropriate. Reception staff were able to identify vulnerable patients and offer longer appointment times where needed and send letters for appointments.