We carried out a review of the data available to us about Queens Avenue Surgery on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Queens Avenue Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.
Queens Avenue is located within the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area. It provides general medical services to approximately 7,900 patients.
The practice is situated in a three storey building. The consulting and treatment rooms for the practice are situated on the ground and first floors which can be accessed by a lift. There is patient parking immediately outside of the practice with spaces reserved for those with disabilities.
Information published by Public Health England rates the level of deprivation within the practice population group as ninth on a scale of one to ten. Level one represents the highest levels of deprivation and level ten the lowest. The practice age profile showed the practice had a higher than average number of patients over the age of 65 years. For example, 43% compared with 27%.
There is a team of six GPs partners and one salaried GP. The GPs are supported by a practice manager, three practice nurses, two healthcare assistants (HCA) and additional reception and administration staff.
The practice is contracted to provide General Medical Services (GMS) and are registered with the CQC for the following regulated activities: diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
A range of services are provided including maternity care, childhood immunisations, chronic disease management, NHS travel immunisations and several enhanced services (enhanced services require an enhanced level of service provision above what is normally required under the core GP contract) including childhood immunisation, learning disability health checks, extended opening hours, and rotavirus and shingles immunisations.
The practice is open daily between 8.30am and 6.30pm. Extended hours appointments with the GP, practice nurses and HCAs are available on Saturday mornings between 8.30am and 12am. Patients are triaged by their own GP and are sent text reminder messages about appointments.
The practice is a training practice for doctors who were training to be qualified as GPs. Patients seen by these GPs are given longer appointments and the trainee has access to a senior GP throughout the day for support.
Out of hour’s services are not provided as these are provided by the NHS 111 service whose contact details are available in the practice and on the website.
The provider has one location and we inspected that location at:
14 Queens Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2EW
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Queens Avenue Surgery on 15 June 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
We saw areas of outstanding practice:
However, there were areas of practice where the provider should make improvements.
Importantly, the provider should;
Ensure a robust system for actioning Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alerts from Public Health England. For example, searches to check for any updates on patient safety alerts or medicine alerts.
Chief Inspector of General Practice
Queens Avenue Surgery is located close to the centre of Dorchester and also Dorset County Hospital. It has been at its present location since 1997. The surgery provides primary medical services to approximately 7300 patients in the Dorchester and surrounding area.
The surgery is registered to provide the following regulated activities:Diagnostic and screening procedures;Family planning;Maternity and Midwifery services;Surgical procedures; andTreatment of disease, disorder or injury.
Patients gave us feedback about the service they received from Queens Avenue Surgery (before and during our inspection). Feedback about the care and treatment received by patients of the practice was positive. Patients told us that their treatment options were always clearly explained to them and they were able to ask questions and make choices. They also said that staff treated them respectfully, were helpful and they were given adequate time for consultations with their GP or nurse.
Consultations were carried out in private treatment rooms and telephones were answered away from the seating area of the ground floor waiting room. This meant that staff could not be overheard by patients waiting for their consultations.
Staff were positive about the management and leadership team and felt supported in their roles. They said their suggestions to improve the service were always listened to.
The service had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that patients received. They also had systems in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of patients, staff and visitors to the surgery.
During our inspection we looked at how well services are provided for specific groups of people and what good care looks like for them. The population groups we reviewed were:
We found the practice provided a responsive service for some patients within each population group.
Queens Avenue Surgery
14 Queens Avenue
Dorchester
DT1 2EW.