Archived: Thornton Medical Centre

Updated 4 June 2015

Thornton Medical Centre has a main surgery at Craven Avenue, Thornton, Bradford and a branch surgery at Denholme, in Bradford. The branch surgery was not visited on this occasion.

The practice has two general practitioner (GP) partners, both female and the practice manager is also a partner and registered manager. There are five salaried GPs, two male and five female. The practice was accredited as a GP Training Practice 18 months ago.

Working alongside the GPs is an advanced nurse practitioner, a nurse practitioner, two practice nurses, a health care assistant (all female,) and a pharmacist. There is an experienced management team including, patient services manager, and administration/reception staff.

The company that holds the Thornton and Denholme practice contract is Westcliffe Care UK Ltd. The practice is part of the ‘Westcliffe Group’ of five practices and they share human resource (HR), governance, quality and management functions, including strategic planning for service delivery.

The practice has an Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contract. APMS provides the opportunity for locally negotiated contracts with non-NHS bodies, such as voluntary or commercial sector providers, to supply enhanced and additional primary medical services. Their registered list of patients is 8,333.

The main practice opening times are Monday 7.30am to 7pm, Tuesday 7.30am to 6pm, Wednesday, and Thursday, Friday 8.30am to 6pm, and Saturday mornings (pre booked appointments only), 8.30am to 11am, with the exception of the last Saturday in the month. The branch surgery has specific opening times to meet the local needs and these are Monday 8.30am to 7pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 8.30am to 5pm, and Friday 8.30am to 1pm, Thursday 8.30am to 12md, and the last Saturday in the month, 8.30am to 11am.

When the practice is closed patient calls will automatically be transferred to the Out of Hours service or they can telephone 111 direct for care and advice.

A range of services are available at the practice and these include: vaccinations and immunisations, cervical smears, and chronic disease management such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and heart disease.

Updated 4 June 2015

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice:

We carried out an announced inspection visit on 03 February 2015 and the overall rating for the practice was good. The inspection team found after analysing all of the evidence the practice was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. It was also rated as good for providing services for all population groups.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice learned from significant events and incidents and took action to prevent their recurrence.

• All areas of the practice were visibly clean.

• Patients received care according to professional best practice clinical guidelines. The practice had regular information updates, which informed staff about new guidance to help ensure they were up to date with best practice.

• The service was responsive and ensured patients received accessible, individual care, whilst respecting their needs and wishes.

• There were positive working relationships between staff and other healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of service.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice including:

• The practice was piloting ‘The Gold Line Service.’ Patients who were on the palliative care register were given a telephone number with direct access to palliative care nurses, 24 hours a day.

• The practice is taking part in the Bradford’s Healthy Hearts campaign, initiated by the NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It is aimed at reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack in people who were in risk groups.

• The practice was an accredited level 2 Diabetes practice. This meant patients had a service local to them and also had access to a dietitian.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Updated 4 June 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of patients with long term conditions. There were systems in place to ensure patients with multiple conditions received one annual recall appointment, wherever possible. This helped to offer the patient a better overall experience when meeting their needs. The practice was an accredited level 2 Diabetes practice. This meant patients had a service local to them and also had access to a dietician.

Healthcare professionals were skilled in specialist areas and their ongoing education meant they were able to ensure best practice was being followed. For those patients with the most complex needs the named GP worked with relevant health and care professionals to deliver a multidisciplinary package of care.

Updated 4 June 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of families, children and young patients. They helped to ensure care for these patients was safe, caring, responsive and effective. The practice provided family planning clinics, childhood immunisation and maternity services. There was health education information relating to these areas in the practice to keep people informed. Appointments were available with practice nurses and GP outside of school hours. 

Updated 4 June 2015

The practice is rated as good for the care of older patients. Nationally reported data showed 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 patients in its population and had a range of enhanced services, for example, in end of life care. They were responsive to the needs of older people, and offered home visits to patients who were housebound.

Updated 4 June 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of working-age patients including those recently retired. They helped to ensure care for these patients was safe, caring, responsive and effective. The practice had extended hours to facilitate attendance for patients who could not attend appointments during normal surgery hours.  There was an online booking system for appointments. A full range of health promotion and screening clinics were available; these reflected the needs of this population group.

Updated 4 June 2015

The practice provided care for people experiencing a mental health problem, including those patients with dementia; which was safe, caring, responsive and effective. The practice regularly worked with multi-disciplinary teams in the case management of people experiencing poor mental health, including those with dementia.

Updated 4 June 2015

The practice is rated as good for the population group of patients whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. The practice held a register of patients living in vulnerable circumstances, including those with learning disabilities. These patients received an annual health check and longer appointments were available where required. Access to translation services were available when needed.