Enter and view: Kirkham Health Centre

This is an Enter and View report by Healthwatch Lancashire. Healthwatch representatives visited the Kirkham Medical Centre to assess the care delivered there.

There are proposals by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the construction of a new health centre which will house both Kirkham Health Centre and Ash Tree House Surgery practices. Together these form the new PCN. Due to the potential move, Kirkham Health Centre is currently balancing the maintenance of their current building whilst also anticipating a move.

Overall patients were positive about the quality of care that they received at the health centre. Waiting times to see a GP, issues with the waiting room monitor and waiting room times were raised as areas requiring some improvement. Patients described staff as friendly, helpful and caring. 

Staff felt well supported, sufficiently trained and able to provide person-centred care. Proposals for a new health centre was seen as a positive way forward by staff in order to continue to meet the needs of increasing numbers of patients. Observations identified that there is a need for an accessibility audit to be carried out in order to ensure that the disabled toilet is fully accessible and that the centre is dementia friendly.

Kirkham Health Centre has an active Patient Participation Group (PPG), although only a few of the patients spoken with had heard of the group and further promotion will help increase patient numbers as well as allow for more diverse patient demographics where possible.

There are recommendations in this report:

1. Trim the hedge around the health centre signage to ensure that all roadside signs are clearly visible.

2. Look at how to effectively direct patients to the disabled carpark to ensure those who require disabled parking are able to access it easily.

3. Look at adding a barrier for the step/ramp by the main doors to create a safer turning space for wheelchair/pushchair users.

4. Review the necessity of a Covid banner and as to whether the lower section of reception could be used for better accessibility and inclusivity.

5. Consider incorporating some varying types of chairs into the waiting areas to meet differing patient needs.

6. Carry out an accessibility audit to identify where improvements to the disabled toilet are needed, as well as ensuring that the health centre is fully dementia friendly. This should be carried out by people with lived experience where possible.

7. Investigate patient issues with the waiting room screen and look at how this can be utilised more to share health and wellbeing and surgery information. The PPG could help with this.

8. Ensure that feedback forms are easily accessible for any patients wishing to provide feedback anonymously.

9. Raise awareness of the PPG and look at actively recruiting more members, with further diversity where possible. Existing PPG members could support with this.

There are no follow up actions in the report. The provider has responded.