Enter and view: the Thornton Practice
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Healthwatch Lancashire undertook an announced enter and view visit to the Thornton Practice on 20 January 2025 and spoke to 27 people.
On arrival Healthwatch Lancashire representatives were warmly greeted by the practice team, and preliminary discussions allowed for the gathering of further information about the practice and services offered.
Thirteen patients and fourteen staff members provided feedback about The Thornton Practice. Services provided at the practice include GPs, practice nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, practice pharmacists, healthcare assistants, care coordinators, district nurses and midwifery. The practice also has access to a community clinic and further community services, including social prescribing and cancer care, through the Torentum Primary Care Network.
Overall patients were positive about their quality of care and felt listened to. Staff were described as helpful and approachable. Digital access to make appointments was raised as requiring improvement by patients, along with more continuity of care.
The practice team have already identified digital access as a need and recently ran a campaign to raise awareness of their digital platforms and are supporting patients to access these.
Staff felt that the practice was sufficiently staffed, other than when sick leave can reduce staffing levels. All stated that they are able to provide person-centred care, with several talking about going ‘above and beyond’. All staff spoken with felt well supported, were praising of their colleagues and felt that practice management team looked after their mental wellbeing.
The disabled toilet in the waiting area was identified as needing some improvement in order to make sure that it is more dementia and visually impaired friendly. As The Thornton Practice leases the building along with The Village Practice this would need to be a joint undertaking between the two practices.
The practice has an active Patient Participation Group (PPG) and are actively working to increase numbers and diversify the group by way of banners and notice boards in the wating rooms.