Enter and view: Stepping Stones

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwin undertook an enter and view visit on 17 November 2023 to Stepping Stones Practice.  They spoke to 7 patients and 3 staff.

The surgery is easily located with a reasonable amount of car parking facilities  that are close to the building, and a dedicated disabled parking space which was  clearly marked. However, it was noted that the parking is fairly restricted. Representatives observed the building to be clean, brightly lit and well maintained. The building is generally accessible, and its environment is welcoming.

There were some very positive elements to the practice with plenty of displays, leaflets, and important information readily available to patients. However, Healthwatch noted that some of the displays were out of date and needed updating while others were informative.

The responses Healthwatch collected at the time of our visit were mixed, with positive comments made about the Practice Manager, while concerns were raised about  some of the Doctors and booking appointments. The staff Healthwatch spoke to were happy in their work and they felt supported by management.

A recurring problem that was apparent with the patients was the difficulty in  getting an appointment, which may have been a key reason why patients Healthwatch spoke to said they would not recommend this GP practice.

There appears to be a lack of clarity around the Social Prescribing role within the practice, with lack of promotion of this service in the waiting room. It appeared that both patients and staff are unaware of this service, and it has not been sufficiently integrated into the practice.

The report includes a detailed response from the provider.