5 August 2022
Orchard Surgery – Dereham

As I continue to work with local councillors and the NHS to ensure that we see improvements at Orchard Surgery in Dereham following the recent ‘inadequate’ rating from the CQC, I am pleased to be able to provide an update.

Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group have today reassured me that Orchard Surgery are taking the rating very seriously, and that they are working with the CCG and the CQC to make improvements as soon as possible.

Among the measures being taken, the Surgery is:

  • Ensuring they have more robust processes in place to respond quickly and thoroughly to safety alerts from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
  • Focusing on safe medicines management, the prioritisation of medication reviews and drug monitoring (including high risk drugs), and ensuring that all of this is completely embedded in the way that they work.
  • Implementing a schedule of professional and pastoral support for the nursing team that has been developed by the surgery and the CCG’s legacy nurses. This is now being implemented, with legacy nurses working in the practice to provide teaching and support to the existing nurse team.
  • Recruiting a new General Practice Nurse (GPN) who will start at the surgery in September. The CCG’s Training Hub will be supporting the new GPN’s induction through the lead GPN.
  • Supporting the wellbeing of all staff, for example by ensuring GP partners have access to professional coaching and that administrative staff have more pastoral support provided through one-to-ones and team meetings.

There remains much more to be done but rest assured I will continue to monitor developments closely and speak up for local patients so that they can expect the services they need and deserve.

To see more on my work on this issue, please click here.