Publication Scheme

Information available in our publication scheme

The information covered in this Publication Scheme is broken down into seven classes:

1. Who we are and what we do

2. What we spend and how we spend it

3. What our priorities are and how we are doing

4. How we make decisions

5. Our policies and procedures

6. Lists and registers

7. The services we offer

The Practice will also publish, where reasonably possible, the contents of all requests made under the FOIA along with the Practice’s response, in our Requests log.

Information not available in our publication scheme

The Publication Scheme classes of information will generally exclude:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise considered to be protected from disclosure e.g., information that we consider to be sensitive, such as certain types of commercial or personal information.
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

Charges for providing the information

At present, all the information we proactively release is available free of charge on our websites. If in the future, we make information available but do not publish it on our website we will update this publication scheme to explain how you can access it. We will also explain any charges that may be necessary.

Charges made for routinely published information will be justified and kept to a minimum, and cover costs such as:

  • photocopying
  • postage and packaging
  • the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information.

1. Who are and what we do

Who the Spinney Group is

The Spinney Group is made up of 2 GP Practices, working under individual NHS contracts, based in St Helens:

  • Eccleston Medical Centre
  • Spinney Medical Centre

The practices have the same GP Partners, who are the owners of the business:

  • Dr Stephen Cox
  • Dr Susan Hyde
  • Dr Claire Clarke
  • Dr Claire Fletcher

How we fit into the NHS

Integrated Care Board (ICB) & Place-based partnerships

ICBs are a statutory NHS organisation responsible for developing a plan for meeting the health needs of the population, managing the NHS budget, and arranging for the provision of health services in the ICS area. The establishment of ICBs resulted in clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) being closed.

Within each ICB, place-based partnerships will lead the detailed design and delivery of integrated services across their localities and neighbourhoods. The partnerships will involve the NHS, local councils, community and voluntary organisations, local residents, people who use services, their carers and representatives and other community partners with a role in supporting the health and wellbeing of the population.

Spinney Group practices are part of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and the St Helens Place

Primary Care Network (PCN)

PCNs are groups of General Practices that have come together to work collaboratively to address a range of health conditions including diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues, and may need to access their local health services more often or in different ways.

The Spinney Group practices are part of St Helens South PCN

Practice staff

As the Practices are working under individual contracts most staff are employed by a specific practice. The Spinney Group has a Business Manager, Katie Power, who works across both practices.

Staffing information is provided on the Practice website; the links below takes you to the relevant webpages:

Contact details

This information is provided on our Contact Us page

Opening times

This information is provided on our Opening Hours page

2. What we spend and how we spend it

GP Earnings

This information is provided on our GP Earnings page

3. What our priorities are and how we are doing

Quality and Outcomes Framework

The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) gives an indication of the overall achievement of a surgery through a points system and contains main components, known as domains. Each domain consists of a set of achievement measures, known as indicators, against which practices score points according to their level of achievement.

  • Clinical care: the domain consists of indicators relating to condition specific clinical areas such as diabetes, heart disease & hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Public health: the domain consists of indicators relating to non-condition specific clinical areas such as obesity & smoking, and service areas including cervical screening, child health surveillance, maternity services, and contraceptive services.

The NHS Digital website gives a breakdown of practices performance in the various domains and indicators:

  • Click on the ‘Search for practice results’ link near the top of the page, then type the Practice’s National Code, in the search box and press enter:
    • Eccleston Medical Centre – N83614
    • Spinney Medical Centre – N83035
  • From the ‘Results Summary’ section select your required practice
  • In the ‘Display options’ box at the right-hand side, tick each ‘Domain’ that you wish to include.

Business plans

Each Practice within the Spinney Group has a Business Plan which sets out aims and objectives for the next few years.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

All Spinney Group practices are registered with the CQC, who undertake periodic inspections. Information regarding the practices latest inspection is available on our CQC page

4. How we make decisions

Clinical treatment decisions

Clinical treatment decisions are made by appropriately trained professionals (i.e., the doctors or the Practice Nurse), and are based upon current clinical guidelines (e.g., National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) standards), using the best information, about a patient and / or their condition, which is available to the Practice.

Clinical team meetings

  • Schedule: Monthly
  • Attendees: All clinical staff – doctors, ANPs, nurses, clinical assistants

These are an opportunity to share new information or changes to existing methods of treatment. They are also an opportunity to share learning between the Practices of the Spinney Group e.g., following an incident.

Management Meetings

Partners Meetings

  • Schedule: Monthly
  • Attendees: Partners & Business Manager

Business and Operational Meetings (BOM)

  • Schedule: Monthly
  • Attendees: Partners, Business Manager, Practice Managers – doctors, ANPs, nurses (Optional)

Management Team

  • Schedule: Monthly
  • Attendees: Partners, Business Manager & Practice Managers

Managers Meetings

  • Schedule: Monthly (Following Management Team meeting)
  • Attendees: Business Manager & Practice Managers

Practice Meetings

These are attended by all Practice staff and are an opportunity for the management teams to address issues raised in the management meetings. They are also an opportunity for staff to raise any concerns or issues that they might have.

Learning from events and complaints is also shared and reviewed.

Patient Surveys

Friends and Family Test

The Friends and Family Test asks one simple question “Thinking about your GP practice. Overall, how was your experience of our service?” and offers a range of responses from ‘Very good’ to ‘Very poor’, with an option for ‘Don’t know’.

The practices collate this information and publishes monthly reports. The results are used as an ongoing indicator of patient’s experience, and to highlight areas which may be working well or an area for concern.

GP Patient Survey

This is undertaken by NHS England and results are published annually. The practices of the Spinney Group review the published results, and consider the information in conjunction with the data from the Friends and Family Test.

Patient Participation Group

Patient Participation Groups are made up of representatives from the Practice’s registered patients who meet with the Practice Manager and other Practice staff. One of the functions of this group is to discuss the results of patient surveys and agree targets and development plans. The performance of the Practice against previously agreed targets is also discussed.

5. Our policies and procedures

Spinney Group policies and procedures are hosted on a system called TeamNet, which is a business management tool; the following links are to the relevant TeamNet item.

Privacy Information

Governance

Information management

Complaints

Complaint forms are also available via the above link.

Safeguarding

The following are also available via the above link:

  • Was Not Brought Protocol
  • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Policy

6. Lists and registers

Gifts register

The practices of the Spinney Group maintain a register of gifts which have a value of more than £100, in line with NHS England Standard GMS Contract. However, neither the Partners nor the Practice routinely accept such gifts.

Staff are permitted to receive small tokens of gratitude from patients, such as a box of chocolates at Christmas, however this is not encouraged. Staff are required to decline anything that could be perceived as being given in order to obtain favourable treatment in the future.

The Gifts register can be viewed at the individual practice by requesting an appointment with the Practice Manager

7. The services we offer

Essential services

  • management of patients who are ill or believe themselves to be ill, with conditions from which recovery is generally expected, for the duration of that condition, including relevant health promotion advice and referral as appropriate, reflecting patient choice wherever practicable.
  • general management of patients who are terminally ill.
  • management of chronic disease in the manner determined by the practice, in discussion with the patient.

Additional services

  • cervical screening
  • contraceptive services
  • vaccinations and immunisations
  • child health surveillance
  • maternity services
  • minor surgery procedures

Enhanced services

The Practices also participate in Enhanced services, which are commissioned by NHS Cheshire & Merseyside. These are:

  • essential or additional services delivered to a higher specified standard, for example, extended minor surgery.
  • services not provided through essential or additional services. These might include more specialised services. They may also include services addressing specific local health needs or requirements, and innovative services that are being piloted and evaluated.

There are three types:

  • under national direction with national specifications and benchmark pricing which all ICBs must commission to cover their relevant population
  • with national minimum specifications and benchmark pricing, but not directed.
  • developed locally.

The enhanced services that the practices currently participate in include, but are not limited to:

  • Enhanced Access
  • Network Contract
  • Seasonal influenza vaccination
  • Near Patient Testing