Enter and view: Mendip Vale Medical St-Georges-Surgery, North Somercote

St. Georges Surgery is part of the group of five GP practices that make up Mendip Vale Medical Practice. Situated in a semi-rural area of North Somerset, Mendip Vale Medical Practice has approximately 26,000 patients who all have access to any of the five Practice surgeries.

3 enter and view representatives engaged with 1 patient and 1 member of staff plus observations made by the volunteers on the day, background research and website. There was a meeting with the Practice Manager prior to the visit. Observations were recorded on an agreed pro forma.

Findings:

• Surgery building was in a good condition externally and is a new purpose-built surgery which opened in June 2012.

• Easy access and good signage

• Surgery information is incorporated within the website for the federation of 5 practices and was user friendly and accessible via a computer or other devices.

Recommendations:

• Provision of chairs with arms and high backs in the waiting area to help patients with mobility problems

• Place the Hearing Loop system notice in a more visible position

• Provide details of waiting times in an easily visible position

• Consider a Carer’s Board with information specifically for Carers

• A ‘You said, We did’ board for patients to understand that the surgery is listening to the patients’ voice

• Accessibility to information in different formats

• Height of Coat hooks in consulting rooms and patient areas to be addressed

• Consideration of becoming dementia friendly; clock in the waiting room being dementia friendly, change colour toilet seat and entrance flooring to avoid confusion.

Report includes response from the Practice and covers aspects of issues raised by the visit such as automated door, music license, coat hooks, hearing loop system, carer’s board, appointment booking, toys in waiting area, communicating with patients and dementia awareness.