Chester medical practice credits hard-working staff for its success

The Fountains Medical Practice is beating the national average on numerous criteria, according to results at GP Patient Survey (www.gp-patient.co.uk)

The results show:

• 71% of patients find it easy to get through to the practice by phone (national average 53%)
• 86% of patients find our receptionists helpful (national average 82%)
• 64% of patients are satisfied with the appointment times available (national average 55%)
• 74% of patients were satisfied with the appointment offered (national average 72%)
• 78% of patients described their overall experience at the practice as good (national average 72%)

These results are a product of what Fountains Medical Practice staff have achieved over the last three years. Under new partnership and leadership, the practice rose from up the brink of closure to the success it is now.

Fountains Medical Practice has invested in clinical staff using various healthcare professionals to build a remarkable team and use innovative IT solutions to offer a wide range of appointments and services to patients.

The practice strongly believes that training the future health care professionals is a key to the success of the NHS and are proud to be a training practice and hub for University of Liverpool Medical School, University of Chester, University of Buckingham, supporting Health Education England with training GP registrars, medical students, physician associates and nurse students.

They have a successful apprenticeship programme for their administrative staff where the team have had opportunities to develop their skills.

Lee Jones, managing partner at the practice, said: “Our ethos is to invest in our team, to develop and encourage them to be the best they can be!

"Even the GP registrars and medical students doing their placements here at the practice become part of the team and take important experiences with them which will undoubtedly equip them to be future leaders in their profession."

Mr Jones joined the practice full time in August 2021 and, while focusing on making the practice a success, also strongly believes in promoting wellness and inclusion within his team.

He added: “The triumph of the practice is completely down to the hard work and dedication of the team and my focus is to make sure that my team are happy and fulfilled at their job. A happy team with a high staff morale will only add to the practice success!”

Fountains Medical Practice also delivers primary care services to all 23 care homes in Chester.

Senior GP Partner Dr Jeevan Crasta, who leads Fountains Integrated Care Service with his team of GPs, advanced nurse practitioners and physician associates, works closely and in partnership with the care homes, providing a holistic and cohesive person-centred care to residents in care homes.

This service, which is one of a kind in the area, was started in 2020 and rolled out to all the care homes in Chester city over a 12-month period at the peak of the pandemic.

One of the hard-working teams at the Fountains Medical Centre in Chester.

Each of the care homes was onboarded to the service under the watchful eye of Dr Crasta and Dr Ian Minshall, who personally developed the initial personalised care plan and with the help of a developing team delivered it to more than 800 registered care home patients.

Fountains Medical Practice has also focused on prioritising proactive preventative care within the community. They are passionate in tackling the health inequalities within the community.

One of the projects they are involved in is increasing the health awareness within the LGBTQIA. The practice is working towards achieving the Pride in Practice Award this year.

They are also working towards achieving Military Veteran Accreditation with the RCGP, while Dr Ian Minshall has recently been awarded for the excellent care in epilepsy.

A cake presented to Dr Ian Minshull at the Fountains Medical Centre, Chester.

They are providing enhanced care to the most vulnerable migrants in the resettlement schemes in partnership with the clinicians at Home Instead.

Catharine Chalton, Owner of Home Instead, said: “I was asked if I would be able to work with the Fountains Medical Practice the winter before the coronavirus pandemic broke out.

"I was happy to help the practice administer flu vaccines to patients in care homes all across Chester. I have been very privileged to continue supporting the practice throughout the pandemic in the drive to administer Covid and flu vaccines to ensure some of the most vulnerable patients in our community have benefited in timely vaccinations.

"The practice delivers GP services across Chester to people who live in care homes and more recently to displaced persons.

"All the services are delivered with compassion and dedication from a small team who care for each and every person as if they were a member of their own family.

"I have been a qualified registered nurse for 40 years and had actually thought by now I would have hung up my uniform! Working with the practice has been an absolute privilege and a great surprise for me to remain ‘within my nursing skin’ until now."

The practice also proactively encourages the University of Chester students to access primary care service offering them an enhanced new patient health check on registration to ensure that the newly arrived students are up to date with their immunisations and know when and how to access primary care services before any crisis.

The practice doesn’t believe in strict geographical boundaries when promoting health and wellbeing within the community.

They actively support one of the little leagues in Cheshire because they are passionate about making sure that children should be given the opportunity to exercise and be healthy.

They are very proud to support and sponsor Little Sutton Football Club. One of their founders and coach Zoe Dunn said: “Little Sutton FC have had the support from the practice to ensure youths from local communities are able to play football and have a good understanding of health and wellbeing.

"The practice gave funds towards the essential kits and sports equipment which meant that the children could stay active each week. Long may our relationship continue in supporting the health and well being of our local communities."

Mr Jones added: “We still have a lot of good work to do and we are headed in the right direction to achieve it."

Dr Crasta concluded: “At Fountains Medical Practice we are blessed with a strong team of dedicated and enthusiastic people who make it possible for one of the smallest practices in the city to play a significant part in providing and promoting health and wellbeing of people with diverse healthcare needs in the city of Chester.”